Certification of Construction (Drainage, Heating & Plumbing)

The Building (Scotland) Act 2003 introduced a new Building Standards system for Scotland that raises standards and simplifies the approval of many construction activities for the public, Verifiers (local authorities) and the industry.

The new Building Standards legislation also provided for the appointment of Approved Certifiers of Design and Approved Certifiers of Construction. Properly qualified professionals can become Approved Certifiers and have the authority to certify work as compliant with building regulations for building warrant purposes.

SNIPEF has been appointed by the Scottish Ministers to run the above scheme which will allow individuals (Approved Certifiers of Construction) to certify drainage, heating and plumbing work which is subject to a Building Warrant. The Approved Certifier must be employed by a business (Approved Body) who is either a member of the plumbing industry licensing scheme (which is operated by SNIPEF) or who meets the Licensing scheme criteria.

Individuals who wish to register as an Approved Certifier of Construction must meet the membership criteria in the Scheme Guide and apply for registration annually. A registration fee of £50 plus VAT is payable.

Organisations that wish to register as an Approved Body must employ at least one Approved Certifier of Construction and meet the membership criteria in the Scheme Guide. The annual registration fee is £350 plus VAT but this is waived for SNIPEF members.

Only Approved Bodies are able to purchase, issue and manage certificates through the certification area of the SBSC website. Certificates are priced at £5 plus VAT and can only be purchased in blocks of five. Certificates are ordered, printed and managed from within the secure area of the website. A certification checklist, to support completed certificates, can also be completed and printed from the website.

Sole practitioners must apply as both an individual and a body using two application forms. The fees are the same as for bodies and individuals at £350 plus VAT per annum for bodies (waived for SNIPEF members) and £50 plus VAT per annum for individuals.

To maintain registration, both Approved Bodies and Approved Certifiers of Construction must pay the annual registration fees and continue to meet the detailed criteria of the Scheme Guide.

Approved Bodies will be audited by SNIPEF on a risk assessment based frequency and at least once every three years. The auditing is to confirm the continued suitability for registration, the standard of the installation work satisfies the requirements of the Building Standards and that certification is being undertaken to an adequate standard. Certification practice will be a key determining feature in setting the frequency of audits.

There are many benefits in operating the scheme:

1. Your client will pay a reduced building warrant fee if they advise the verifier that they are using an Approved Certifier of Construction;
2. You will be able to certify (as long as you have demonstrated your technical competency) above or below ground drainage, heating installations (gas, oil, solid fuel boilers), unvented systems, micro-renewables (biomass, solar and heat pumps) and electrical work associated with any of these installations, which is subject to a building warrant;
3. Local Authority Building Control Departments (now known as Verifiers) must accept a valid certificate of construction and they will not inspect work which has been certified by an Approved Certifier;
4. You will be able to use a logo which will indicate that you are a Scottish Government Approved Certifier;
5. You will appear in the Scottish Government Certification Register which is the only authoritative source of information on all Approved Certifiers and Approved Bodies.

To apply, you will need to complete and the appropriate scheme application forms.

Please note that you will need to submit documentary evidence of your qualifications for each scope of the scheme you wish to certify.

For more information contact:

Anne Whitton - SNIPEF Membership Services Department: 0131 556 0600

Leslie Stark - SNIPEF Membership Services Department: 0131 556 0600

Alan Wilson - Head of Certification: 0131 556 0600

SNIPEF Fax: 0131 557 8409

Approved Bodies will be audited by SNIPEF on a risk assessment based frequency and at least once every three years. The auditing is to confirm the continued suitability for registration, the standard of the installation work satisfies the requirements of the Building Standards and that certification is being undertaken to an adequate standard. Certification practice will be a key determining feature in setting the frequency of audits. A link to the SNIPEF scheme can be found here.