Building Control Officer
Encyclopedia
A building control officer (also known as a building inspector, BCO), is now generally known as a Building Control Surveyor in the United Kingdom. This is a person with the authority to control building work
that is subject to the Building Regulations. The title Building Control Officer is one predominantly used by local authorities in the UK, which confer the title of Officer to many of their staff who have regulatory, supervision or enforcement roles.
Many are members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
and chartered building surveyors or chartered building control surveyors, and are members of that RICS Faculty. They practice in either the public or private sector with local authorities or with companies, or as individuals, who are recognised approved inspectors
'Approved inspectors' are bodies or individuals who must be appointed by an organisation designated by the Secretary of State
as having the authority to control building work
. Surveyors who work for approved inspectors generally do not refer to themselves as officers.
The main function of building control is to ensure that the requirements of the Bbuilding regulations are met in all types of non-exempt development. Generally they examine plans
, specifications and other documents submitted for approval, and survey work as it proceeds. Most building control surveyors are now actively involved at design stage for many schemes and are acknowledged to provide valuable input at all stages of development.
Many building control surveyors who work for local authorities are involved with other legislation such as safety at sports grounds, dealing with dangerous structures and demolitions, and various development and building matters.
Local suthorities have powers under the Building Act 1984 to enforce the building regulations and have work altered or removed that does not comply. These powers have not been conferred on
Building
In architecture, construction, engineering, real estate development and technology the word building may refer to one of the following:...
that is subject to the Building Regulations. The title Building Control Officer is one predominantly used by local authorities in the UK, which confer the title of Officer to many of their staff who have regulatory, supervision or enforcement roles.
Many are members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is an independent, representative professional body which regulates property professionals and surveyors in the United Kingdom and other sovereign nations....
and chartered building surveyors or chartered building control surveyors, and are members of that RICS Faculty. They practice in either the public or private sector with local authorities or with companies, or as individuals, who are recognised approved inspectors
'Approved inspectors' are bodies or individuals who must be appointed by an organisation designated by the Secretary of State
Secretary of State (United Kingdom)
In the United Kingdom, a Secretary of State is a Cabinet Minister in charge of a Government Department ....
as having the authority to control building work
Building
In architecture, construction, engineering, real estate development and technology the word building may refer to one of the following:...
. Surveyors who work for approved inspectors generally do not refer to themselves as officers.
The main function of building control is to ensure that the requirements of the Bbuilding regulations are met in all types of non-exempt development. Generally they examine plans
Plans (drawings)
Plans are a set of drawings or two-dimensional diagrams used to describe a place or object, or to communicate building or fabrication instructions. Usually plans are drawn or printed on paper, but they can take the form of a digital file.- Overview :...
, specifications and other documents submitted for approval, and survey work as it proceeds. Most building control surveyors are now actively involved at design stage for many schemes and are acknowledged to provide valuable input at all stages of development.
Many building control surveyors who work for local authorities are involved with other legislation such as safety at sports grounds, dealing with dangerous structures and demolitions, and various development and building matters.
Local suthorities have powers under the Building Act 1984 to enforce the building regulations and have work altered or removed that does not comply. These powers have not been conferred on
See also
- Building regulations approvalBuilding regulations approvalTo comply with the Building Act 1984 and the subsequent statutory instruments known as the Building Regulations, Building regulations approval is required to construct certain structures in the United Kingdom....
- Building regulations in the United Kingdom
- Energy efficiency in British housingEnergy efficiency in British housingDomestic housing in the United Kingdom presents a possible opportunity for achieving the 20% overall cut in UK carbon dioxide emissions targeted by the Government for 2010...
- Planning permissionPlanning permissionPlanning permission or planning consent is the permission required in the United Kingdom in order to be allowed to build on land, or change the use of land or buildings. Within the UK the occupier of any land or building will need title to that land or building , but will also need "planning...