Building Control
Introduction
Faero's Competent Person scheme launched on 2nd April 2007, with two Scheme Members and about 60 competent persons, offering their services to the homebuilding industry. Faero expects to recognise at least two further members, and many more competent persons, over the coming months. There is information about Faero's current members and registered applicants elsewhere on this website.
The Faero Ltd competent persons scheme is designated in Approved Document L1A for CO2 emission rate calculation, which means that Building Control is authorised to accept a certificate issued by a person who is registered with Faero Ltd as evidence in respect of the required CO2 emission rate calculations (TER and DER). This applies to both Local Authority Building Control and to the approved inspectors.
For simplicity, Faero has implemented the certificate requirement via the ADL1A Appendix A checklist. Building Control should look for the Faero logo, certificate number, and details of the responsible Competent Person on the Appendix A checklist which they receive with the application for building regulations approval. To see an example, click here: example Faero checklist
Faero's scheme is authorised in Regulation 20D of the Building Regulations 2000, as amended, and in Regulation 12D of the Building (Approved Inspectors etc) Regulations 2000, as amended. In brief, these regulations authorise local authorities and approved inspectors to accept as evidence of compliance with the requirements of Regulation 17C of the Building Regulations 2000, if the building were constructed in accordance with an accompanying list of specifications, a certificate to that effect from a person who is registered by Faero Limited. The building therefore has to be constucted in accordance with the design that was provided to the competent person when the calculation was undertaken.
What is Faero, what does it do, and how will it work?
Faero Ltd is a non-profit making Company Limited by Guarantee. This means it is independent of the member organisations that register with it. In effect, it acts as the regulator of organisations offering SAP software and quality assurance to SAP Assessors.
It currently operates the competent person scheme for SAP and CO2 emission rate calculations for new homes, and may expand into other areas in 2007. For example, as soon as the application process is available, Faero will apply to Communities and Local Governent (CLG) to recognise its registered competent persons to issue Energy Performance Certificates for new homes.
Faero's scheme works by registering member organisations, which agree to operate to Faero's defined standards, which reflect (and sometimes exceed) the minimum requirements identified for the competent person scheme by CLG. Members provide SAP software and other services to their individual competent persons, also known as SAP Energy Assessors (SEAs). These indviduals were previously known as Authorised SAP Assessors.
Competent persons use SAP software to produce the outputs required by BCBs, and their work is monitored by the member to ensure these calculations are being carried out correctly and can be relied upon. Faero then audits its members to ensure the validity of these checks.
What does this mean for me as part of a Building Control Body?
Building Control submissions can be provided by competent persons at both the Design stage and the As-built stage of regulations compliance checking.
For a BCB receiving a Design submission, the presence of the certificated calculation, the registration details of the competent person, and the presence of the Faero logo will all give the reassurance that the submission has been created by a competent person. Receiving a Design submission from a competent person allows the BCB to accept the submission at face value.
When an as-built submission is being created, the competent person will have received written confirmation from his client that the building has been constructed in accordance with the design. Where the construction differs, or if there is a pressure test result available on the built property, a revised calculation will be undertaken and submitted for the As-built compliance check. Thus, BCBs will know that the client has confirmed that the building was built in accordance with the specification used for the As-built submission. Once again, the certificated calculation, the registration details of the competent person, and the presence of the Faero logo will all give the reassurance that the submission has been created by a competent person and may be accepted at face value.
Do I need to check any work submitted by a Faero registered competent person?
The decision whether to accept the work of a competent person without further checks always lies with the BCB, but the scheme is designed to give you appropriate reassurance of the quality of the work done so that you can accept submissions without the need to check it.
The scheme is currently designated in respect of Criterion One of ADL1a (the TER/DER calculation), but competent persons will submit documentation covering the whole of ADL1a. Most BCBs would accept the whole submission without additional checks, knowing that the person submitting is using approved software, has been properly trained in its use and in the requirements of ADL1a, and is being monitored to confirm the quality of his work.
How will I receive a building regulations notice from a Faero registered competent person? What format will it be in and what should I do with it when I receive it?
In due course, competent persons will submit Certificates of Compliance with Regulation 17c, however the format of this certificate is still in development. In the interim, competent persons' submissions are identified by the presence of the Faero logo, together with reference to the competent person's registation details, and a unique reference number, which will all appear on the Appendix A checklist. This is the logo to look for - it is your guarantee that the calculation has been carried out competently.
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To see an example of the completed checklist carrying the Faero logo, click here: example Faero checklist
This is the checklist that is produced by an NES/NHER registered competent person.
Examples of checklists produced by other Faero members will be provided here as soon as they are available.
How can I check if the person is really a Faero registered competent person?
Faero's website carries links to its members' websites, where lists of the member's registered competent persons will be provided. Alternatively, BCBs can check the validity of the competent person's registration details, as given on the submission, by calling the member direct. Members will either provide a contact number, or a searchable database, on their websites.
Click on this link: NES/NHER to go to NES/NHER's Competent Persons webpage. This page contains a searchable database of competent persons.
Click on this link: EES/Elmhurst to go to EES/Elmhurst's website.
Click on this link: BuildDesk to go to BuildDesk's website.
How can I find out about Faero protocol?
Information about the scheme and its Technical Standards is included in the Scheme Description. To read this document, please click on this link: