The BSCF is a Community Interest Company that provides independence and impartiality when assessing and validating the competence of the building control profession.

THE VALIDATION PROCESS

• STEP 1 - All candidates will be required to complete an application form detailing their experience relevant to the scope of certification sought. Please complete the application form and return this to certification@thebscf.org
• STEP 2 - The BSCF will review all applications
• STEP 3 -  The BSCF will confirm approval of the application via email with a link to book onto your chosen assessment location. The cost of validation assessment is £600+VAT
• STEP 4 - Candidates sit the assessment.
• STEP 5 - Results will be published 12 weeks after the assessment date. Results provided will be PASS/REFERRED

All successful candidates will receive a certificate and an ID card showing that they have passed the validation assessment. Bi-annual renewal of ID cards will be subject to candidates submitting sufficient evidence during the biennial surveillance.

START APPLICATION

If you have any questions regarding the validation assessment, please contact the Building Safety Competence Foundation team at certification@thebscf.org.

READ MORE ON THE BSCF WEBSITE 

Thank you for registering on one of the LABC funded Pathways.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has awarded LABC a Funding Grant to provide surveyors working in areas in England that have HRBs, with education and validations that lead up to the competence validation level of Specialist Building Control Surveyor.

Your selected pathway is made up of: 

• Formal &/or Informal learning package – provided by LABC
• Validation Assessment for: Band A Domestic Surveyor (provided by BSCF) 

       and/or

• Validation Assessment for: Band B General Surveyor (provided by BSCF) 

       and/or

• Validation Assessment for: Band C Specialist Surveyor (provided by BSCF)

LABC have appointed the Building Safety Competence Foundation C.I.C. (BSCF) to provide independent and impartial competence assessments and certification services to individuals under the terms of the funded pathway. 
The BSCF is a Community Interest Company that provides independence and impartiality when assessing and validating the competence of the building control profession.

The validation assessment has been developed to enable experienced building control surveyors to demonstrate their competence in relation to building regulations. It is with this in mind that the Building Control Professional (BCP) Competence Validation Assessment will focus on the majority of work that the many BCP’s are likely to be involved in. However, the competencies being assessed will include an understanding of the limits of one’s own competence and when to seek advice, learning and additional support where necessary.

THE MEASURE OF COMPETENCE

Whilst many of you have years of experience as Building Control Surveyors there has never been a true demonstrable measure of the competence of a building control surveyor. In the near future all levels of building control surveyor will need to have their competence validated in this way in order to be Registered with the Building Safety Regulator. 

BSCF has created an assessment to allow existing experienced surveyors to validate their competence under the scope of certification sought. 

SCOPE(S) OF CERTIFICATION

1. Change of use or change of energy status – it also includes any ancillary buildings associated with the premises, such as non-exempt outbuildings.
2. Means - A dwelling house that is a unit where one or more people live (whether as a sole or main residence) in either of the following situations. 

• A single person or people living together as a family. 
• A maximum of six people living together as a single household, but not including where care is provided for residents

3. A construction method/building type that can be assessed utilising the guidance contained in sections 2 - 4 of Approved Document A.
4. Inclusive of the highest storey. Basement storey(s), and roof storeys consisting solely of the use of plant and equipment and accessed only for maintenance and repair are not counted. Roofs used for occupant amenity/recreation etc are counted as a storey.

DOMESTIC BUILDING CONTROL SURVEYOR

Intended for the less experienced BCP who has been working in the role for around 2 years and has relevant, current and sufficient experience working with low-rise domestic premises whilst they have been carrying out on-the-job learning and attaining qualifications. For example, experienced trainees and assistant surveyors. BSCF also recognises that in some BCBs there will be those BCP’s who are exceptionally good at applying their knowledge and skill to domestic building work and have no aspiration to work on more complex premises.

GENERAL BUILDING CONTROL SURVEYOR

It is anticipated that the majority of BCP’s will achieve and maintain General Building Control (Band B) status. Intended for more experienced BCP’s that can work without supervision on a variety of both domestic and commercial projects.Premises of any type and form of construction, where the guidance contained in the Approved Documents can be applied and being within the size limits mentioned.

SPECIALIST BUILDING CONTROL SURVEYOR (HIGHER COMPLEXITY BUILDINGS)

The skills set and experience needed for candidates for Band C BCP are not dissimilar to the Band B BCP, however, these individuals should have a higher level of competence regarding fire and building safety for premises of any type, height, size, form of construction and method of design – including any premises that will be within the scope of the Building Safety Regulator, as well as being able to work within a multi-disciplinary team and have a strong comprehension of the regulatory regime under which they operate.

There should also be a strong awareness of placing residents at the heart of building safety – albeit that BCP’s should have a strong awareness of this at both Bands A and B, and should always place the interests of the building users/occupants above that of the building owner/designer/contractor.

FEES

Fees are chargeable for Initial certification, recertification and surveillance (during year 2 of the certification cycle).

• Initial Certification - £600+VAT
• Surveillance (Y2) - £225+VAT
• Recertification (Y4) - £600+VAT
• Extending the Scope of an existing certification - £400+VAT

THE VALIDATION PROCESS

• STEP 1 - All candidates will be required to complete an application form detailing their experience relevant to the scope of certification sought. Please complete the application form and return this to certification@thebscf.org
• STEP 2 - The BSCF will review all applications
• STEP 3 -  The BSCF will confirm approval of the application via email with a link to book onto your chosen exam location. The cost of validation assessment is £600+VAT
• STEP 4 - Candidates sit the exam. All examination centres will adhere to COVID-19 guidelines ensuring social distancing and all necessary precautions are in place. 
• STEP 5 - Results will be published 12 weeks after the exam date. Results provided will be PASS/REFERRED

All successful candidates will receive a certificate and an ID card showing that they have passed the validation assessment. Bi-annual renewal of ID cards will be subject to candidates submitting sufficient evidence during the biennial surveillance.

START APPLICATION

If you have any questions regarding the validation assessment, please contact the Building Safety Competence Foundation team at certification@thebscf.org.

USEFUL RESOURCES

• BSCF Information for Candidates Band A Building Control Inspector
• BSCF Information for Candidates Band B General and Band C Specialist Building Control Inspector
• BSCF General Information for Candidates
• BSCF Validation Application Form
• BSCF Reasonable Adjustments Policy
• BSCF Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments Guidance
• BSCF Guidance on Examination Technique
• BSCF Rules of Certification
• BSCF Code of Conduct for Certified Persons
• BSCF Code of Conduct for Certified Persons – Guidance Document

This course is designed to provide anyone involved in the design, checking, implementation and inspection of foundations, ground works and ground floor slabs with the basic knowledge necessary to perform their role with confidence. We will look at relevant sections of the Building Act 1984, Part A of the Building Regulations, British Standards and Codes of Practice, different materials and systems, ground conditions, soil types and characteristics and what to do when building near trees.  Delegates will gain knowledge and understanding of the various requirements, materials, procedures and good practice involved in foundations and ground works. It is aimed at all building control professionals, designers, contractors and site managers who require a basic understanding of the principles and practices of foundations and groundworks.

Please note: This course is split over two half days. Part 1 can be booked as a stand alone course but if you wish to attend Part 2 you must have attended Part 1. If you wish to book Parts 1 and 2 you will need to make a separate booking for each day.

CPD: Parts 1 & 2 count for 3 hours of CPD each.

Cost: Parts 1 & 2 will cost £80.00 + VAT each per delegate. You will need to book each part separately using the links at the bottom of this page.

Platform: This course will be held via Zoom. Part 1 & 2 will run for 3.5 hours including time for breaks.

Course Content & Learning Outcomes:

Part 1 - Basic Foundations (extensions and residential buildings) - For more detailed information on the course content please click here.

• Soil and soil classification
• Site investigations
• Foundation types
• Ground floor construction
• Retaining walls (small)
• Testing and tolerances
• Foundation depth calculators
• Contamination

Part 2 - Advanced Foundations (commercial, industrial, high-rise and basements) - For more detailed information please click here.

• Soil and soil classification (advanced)
• Site investigations (additional information)
• Foundation types
• Piling
• Retaining walls (large)
• Basements
• Testing, static, dynamic, integrity
• Foundation/pile calculations
• Piling - good practice guide
• Contamination

Testimonials:
"Well presented and the hand-outs were very useful"
"An excellent and informative course"
"A very interesting course that added further valuable knowledge that I can use when out on site!"
"This was the best LABC course I have been on! I learnt so much and gained a crucial insight into soil mechanics."

Who should attend:
This course is suited to any building professional who wants to get a good basic understanding of foundations and ground works.

• Architects
• Chartered Architectural Technologists
• Developers
• Builders
• Contractors
• Specialist Contractors
• Building Consultants
• Surveyors
• Public Service Building Control Surveyors

This practical, half day course serves as a good introductory or refresher session for anyone in the construction industry who requires a basic understanding of the Building Regulations and Building Act and how they work in practice. It takes the mystery and confusion out of the Building Control system, explains in clear terms what legislation is involved, when Building Regulations notification is needed and what to expect in practice. This course will give you an overview of the Building Control process and practices and implications for clients, designers and contractors.

CPD: This course counts for 3.5 hours CPD.

Cost: £80.00 + VAT per delegate.

Platform: This course will be held via Zoom and will run for 5 hours including time for breaks.

Course Content & Learning Outcomes:

• Brief history of building regulations

• The Building Act 1984

• The Building Regulations 2010

• When is Building Regulations notification required?

• Schedule 1 - Requirements

• Schedule 2 - Exemptions

• Schedule 3 - Competent Persons Schemes

• Schedule 4 - Where no application is required

• Approved Documents

• The building control process and enforcement

• Public and private sector systems – including the role of the Regulator

Who should attend:

• Architects
• Chartered architectural technologists
• Building engineers
• Chartered surveyors
• Technicians
• Builders
• Contractors
• Building owners and developers