How McLaughlin & Harvey demonstrates competency under the Building Safety Act

Trade bodies

Guidance from industry bodies is starting to emerge, such as the Joint Competency Initiative (envelope) and the Association of Specialist Fire Protection, which have developed standards for assessing individual competencies. However, we need a set of standards for every trade and there is some way to go before this is achieved.

Professional bodies

The CIOB Principal Contractor Competency Certification Scheme (PCCCS) provides a route to proving competency as a principal contractor, as required by the Building Safety Regulator. It is suitable for individuals performing the role of the principal contractor under the BSA. Similar routes for principal designers are run by the Association for Project Safety and the Royal Institute of British Architects.

Documentation and guidance

There are several documents that contractors can use to better understand their duties and guide their approaches to competency. These include the Design and building work: meeting building requirements guide and the Industry Competence Committee’s Setting Expectations on Competence Management draft document, which is currently out for consultation. At McLaughlin & Harvey, we’re comparing our own policies and procedures to this document to ensure we can demonstrate compliance.

Formal training

Investing in formal training is crucial for demonstrating skills and knowledge. For example, 14 members of our design team recently completed the CABE Certificate in Building Control, providing them with an improved understanding of legislation, regulatory requirements and routes to compliance, as well as helping us evidence team competency.