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Guidance: Registered building control approvers

Health Safety Executive

October 10
08:00 2023

Role of an RBCA

Registered building control approvers (RBCAs) are private sector businesses that carry out building control work under the Building Act 1984 (as amended) (legislation.gov.uk).

An RBCA can be a standalone business, part of a wider company structure or group, a sole trader or partnership.

RBCAs must comply with the:

If an RBCA contravenes the operational standards rules, we can serve improvement and serious contravention notices. In the event of continuing failure, we can cancel the RBCAs registration.

If an RBCA contravenes the professional conduct rules, we can issue sanctions.

Registered building inspectors

When carrying out building control work, an RBCA must consider the advice of a registered building inspector.

An RBCA must:

  • employ registered building inspectors of the correct class and category for the type of building control work the RBCA does
  • employ enough registered building inspectors to cover the building control work the RBCA is carrying out
  • have arrangements in place to manage the quality of work done by registered building inspectors under supervision

When to register as an RBCA

Private sector businesses that carry out building control work, can register with BSR from 10 October 2023. They must be registered by 6 April 2024 to operate as an RBCA. This replaces the approved inspector register run by CICAIR.

Transitional arrangements allow businesses who do not register, to complete any legacy work before exiting the profession. All higher-risk building projects must be completed by April 2024. All non-higher-risk building projects must be completed by October 2024. Any businesses not registered as an RBCA by 6 April 2024, or who attempt to continue working as an approved inspector beyond these dates, will be committing a criminal offence which could result in prosecution.

Registering as an RBCA

Senior employees that can represent the business should submit the application to register the business as an RBCA. For example, an owner, director, partner or senior manager. This person should also be the main contact for BSR.

After you submit the application

Well review the application and if required, ask you to provide further information. You may be asked to provide copies of documentation, and you could be invited to an interview.

If all the questions are not answered on the application form, or sufficient information has not been provided, then the application will be rejected.

Getting a decision

Well tell you if the application is approved, approved subject to conditions, or rejected.

In cases where the application is subject to conditions or rejected, well tell you why.

You can request a review of the application and, if still subject to conditions or rejected, you can appeal to a First-tier Tribunal.

Registrations will be valid for 5 years, unless varied, suspended or cancelled by BSR.

Public register

Details of each RBCA will appear on the public register. The register allows people to confirm which businesses are registered as RBCAs, and the work they are registered to do.

The register shows:

  • the businesss name and address
  • the type of building control work the RBCA is registered to do
  • the start and end date of the registration
  • details of any conditions of registration

Removal from the register

An RBCA can be removed from the register if:

  • the business stops carrying out regulated building control work and asks to be taken off the register
  • the registration is not renewed
  • the RBCAs registration is suspended or cancelled by BSR

If details of an RBCA are removed from the register, we will continue to keep the information, in line with our data retention policy.

To ask for your details to be taken off the register, call us on 0300 790 6787.

Making changes to your registration

You must notify us within 28 days of any changes relevant to the RBCA registration, which includes:

  • a change of management structure
  • a change of director or partner
  • a change of ownership
  • a change to the main contact for the RBCA
  • any professional sanctions from other bodies
  • any relevant criminal convictions, as set out in the professional conduct rules, for either the business or senior personnel
  • if the RBCA is at risk of going into liquidation, or will cease to trade for any reason

You can read more about the changes you must tell us about, in therules of registration section of the professional conduct rules.

To make a change to an RBCAs registration details, call us on 0300 790 6787.

Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm (except Wednesdays when we are open from 10am to 5pm, and public holidays when we are closed). Find out aboutcall charges.

Well ask for your email address and send you a form and a ShareFile link with instructions on how to upload your changes.

You do not need to re-register the RBCA after making a change unless its registration is due to expire.

You cannot transfer an RBCA registration to another business.

Published 10 October 2023

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