Building your
community
Introduction
Building control officers (BCOs) work in the
building industry, ensuring that regulations on public health,
safety, energy conservation and disabled access are
met. Around 3,000 building control offices are
employed in local government or approved inspectors throughout the
UK.
Work Environment
BCOs work some of the time in offices
writing reports, vetting of plans to establish compliance with the
building regulations and the remainder of their time on building
sites of varying size making regular inspections as the work
proceeds to ensure the builders comply with the said
regulations.
Daily Activities
Almost every new building or structural
alteration requires building regulation approval. Application for
such approval and planning permission is via the local authority or
to a private Approved Inspector for building regulation control.
Once building regulations approval and planning permission have
been granted, it is the building control officer's job to inspect
the work at various stages of construction.
In addition to their work on health safety and building
regulation enforcement, if consulted at a sufficiently early stage
in a building project, their advice can save time and money on a
range of issues.
Ultimately they have powers to prosecute builders or
persons having the works if the work does not conform to the
building regulations, although they would prefer to use this as a
means of last resort. Most of the routine inspections are conducted
as work progresses on site. Building control officers may be
involved from anything from a kitchen extension to an entire
town-centre complex. They normally keep a running record of how
each project is progressing and, once complete, may issue a
certificate.
While the majority of the work is concerned with
construction, building control departments within local government
also approve demolitions and carry out surveys of potentially
dangerous buildings. Some inspections may arise in the wake of
comments from members of the public or fire officers or the police
calling to say they believe a particular building is dangerous, or
that it has suffered as the result of an accident, fire or the
weather. This tends to happen a great deal after storms and freak
weather conditions.
Skills & Interests
BCOs must have a broad knowledge of all
aspects of building work, in addition to being familiar with
complex building regulations and legislation. They must have the
technical knowledge in order to talk authoritatively with
architects, agents site managers and builders and the
public.
They must be good communicators both in writing and
verbally, and posses excellent organisational and administrative
skills. An interest in building is a must as is the ability to
relate well with people and demonstrate a logical approach to
problem solving.
Entry Requirements
Minimum entry qualifications are five
GCSE/Standard grade passes at grade C or better, including maths, a
science and proof of English language ability. Many employers will
look to degree-level entrants, however. There is an S/NVQ Level 4
in Building Control available, providing an alternative route into
the profession.
Length of training varies according to the trainee's
background, with non-graduate entrants normally obtaining a BTEC
Higher National Diploma or Certificate in Building Studies via day
or block release. These are followed by professional examinations
set by the Association of Building Engineers or the Royal Institute
of Chartered Surveyors.
Graduate entrants may be exempted from some
stages.
Future Prospects & Opportunities
Building control officers can move into
senior building control officers' posts and then onto the head of
the service.
Further Information & Services
Association of Building Engineers www.abe.org.uk
Construction Skills www.citb.co.uk
Local Authority Building Control www.labc.uk.com
You may find further information about this area of work
through Careers Wales (www.careerswales.com/) or
in your local library, careers office or school careers
library.