Institution of Civil Engineers   |   Record

Structures

Tall building competence register

ICE/IStructE initiative to register competence of engineers working on tall buildings to reassure public about the safety of these structures.

The ICE and the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) are to run a joint registration process for a new competency register of members who work on tall buildings.

The initiative is aimed at 14 to 18 year olds

The register aims to provide assurance that engineers involved in the construction and maintenance of higher risk buildings are working to new, legally required standards.

In England, any building that is more than 18m tall or has at least seven storeys and contains at least two residential units is a higher risk building.

Under the Building Safety Act 2022, which came into effect in October this year, clients must assess the competence of the principal designer and principal contractor for every higher risk building project.

The same act also establishes the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) as a new branch of the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).

The BSR must be satisfied with the competency of principal designers and contractors before work on a tall building can begin.

The ICE has been working with the Engineering Council UK to develop the new higher risk buildings register.

It will assess engineers against a new standard known as the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence and Commitment Contextualised for Higher-Risk Buildings.

The standard is based on the British Standard BSI flex 8670 Core Criteria for building safety in competence frameworks.

The HSE has developed guidance for the new legislation, including the requirements for competence declarations.