LABC announce next phase of independent certification scheme

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In 2018 LABC took up Dame Judith Hackitt's challenge to prove the competence of public service building surveyors. Working with the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE), LABC developed a competency assessment for professionals working on fire safety in higher risk buildings. And so far more than 550 LABC surveyors across England and Wales have been successfully accredited.

LABC is now developing the scheme under UKAS and ISO 17024 (conformity assessment for bodies certifying people) to ensure a truly robust and impartial validation of building control professionals’ competence. As a result the validation programme will be extended to cover all levels of building control professional – both public and private sector.

To provide independent scrutiny of the competency validation scheme, as required by the standard, LABC has formed an 'Impartiality Committee' made up of industry experts.

LABC is delighted to announce that Professor Luke Bisby (Edinburgh University), Graham Watts OBE (Chief Executive of the Construction Industry Council and chair of the cross industry IRG Competency Steering Group), Francesca Berriman MBE (Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technicians and a Trustee of the Building Research Establishment) and David Snowball (Ex-Acting Chief Executive of HSE) have all agreed to join the committee.

 

Please Note: Every care was taken to ensure the information was correct at the time of publication. Any written guidance provided does not replace the user’s professional judgement. It is the responsibility of the dutyholder or person carrying out the work to ensure compliance with relevant building regulations or applicable technical standards.

We’re taking the bold move to open up our fire safety validation to the whole building control sector because we want a transparent and robust system that represents the best in the industry and meets the international ISO 17024 standard.
Lorna Stimpson, LABC Chief Executive

Commenting LABC Chief Executive, Lorna Stimpson, said, "This is a vital phase of LABC’s drive to identify and validate competency and improve quality and standards. We’re taking the bold move to open up our fire safety validation to the whole building control sector because we want a transparent and robust system that represents the best in the industry and meets the international ISO 17024 standard.

"And I am delighted that such an influential group of people have already agreed to take part in this vital area of work helping to make sure LABC Certification will be completely impartial."

Comments

IFE

Submitted 3 years 5 months ago

Has to be the right and only way to prevent further failures. Personally I have always consulted with Fire Officers on schemes even after they left the Service in Consultancy. Nothing beats experience especially in fire situations

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