The Scottish Building Safety Division recently published two handbooks to support their developing Compliance Plan Approach, in addition to a call for evidence on fire to further improve Building Standards.

The two documents published are supporting the implementation of the Compliance Plan Approach (CPA), a policy under continuing development and which was introduced in response to critical safety failures such as the Grenfell Tower fire and structural issues in Edinburgh schools.

The new approach to compliance in buildings can be scaled up or down and is appropriate for all types of work that need a building warrant. Initially it is focused on those classified as High-Risk Buildings (HRBs*). It also introduced a new dutyholder role, the Compliance Plan Manager, which is yet to be included in primary legislation.

The two tools published are aimed at supporting both industry on their implementation of that Compliance Plan Approach and the building control verifiers:

• Verification During Construction - High Risk Buildings -Verifiers Guidance to Support Implementation of Phase 1 of Compliance Plan Approach - gov.scot

This guidance outlines steps that verifiers must follow when processing building warrant applications and completion certificates for defined High Risk Buildings to support implementation of phase 1 of the Compliance Plan Approach.

• Verification During Construction - High Risk Buildings - The Compliance Plan Approach - Background and Implementation - gov.scot

This guidance intends to give industry local authority verifiers and industry the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the strengthened approach to processing building warrant applications for HRBs, in advance of (likely) changes to legislation. It includes the steps expected of a CPM, before it likely becomes a statutory requirement to work with all parties to propose and then monitor the CP. It further includes guidance on projects in scope, an overview of the roles in the CPA, information about who can be an agent of the Relevant Person, and information about the Compliance Plan and implementation.

Related to this publication is the Call for Evidence – Fire Safety Review and Compliance, which closes on 10th April. The Call for Evidence to review Section 2 (Fire) of the Building Standards will inform the scope and priority actions needed to improve fire safety across all building types. It reviews the effectiveness of current provisions set out within Section 2 (Fire). The Government wants to hear about the challenges people faced in meeting fire safety standards and want to identify further opportunities for improvement in both content and communication of standards and guidance and their application and clarity of intent in practice to further improve the fire safety performance of buildings. It also consults on the developing Compliance Plan Approach for HRBs where the Building Standards Division think change is warranted, and to understand support or otherwise before they move to considering legislative change.

APS has been engaging with the Building Safety Division on the compliance plan approach, especially in relation to the development of the role of the compliance plan Manager and it will continue its engagement in this agenda, including a consideration of its response to the consultation, to get to the best possible fire safety outcomes.

*HRB also means something different in Scotland. High-Risk buildings include Residential buildings with any storey over 11 metres above ground, Educational institutions (schools, colleges, universities), Hospitals and residential care facilities, Community and sports centres, and Non-domestic buildings under local authority control or interest.