Engineering competence standard introduced for higher-risk UK buildings

by Breaking NewsBuilding ManagementFire EngineeringSafety

New UK standard targets engineering competence in higher-risk buildings

The Engineering Council has published a new standard to assess the competence and commitment of engineers and technicians working on higher-risk buildings in the UK.

According to the Engineering Council, the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence and Commitment contextualised for Higher-Risk Buildings (UK-SPEC HRB) was created in response to recommendations made in Dame Judith Hackitt’s review of building regulations and fire safety following the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire.

The standard is based on the existing UK-SPEC but adapted for the design, construction, maintenance and operation of buildings defined as higher risk under the Building Safety Act.

Collaboration with professional institutions guided the development

The Engineering Council explained that UK-SPEC HRB was developed with input from professional engineering institutions and expert volunteers.

It stated that the standard is designed to support professional registration of those working on higher-risk buildings through an adapted assessment framework that includes discipline-specific annexes for fire, structural, façade and building services engineering.

At the launch, Engineering Council CEO Paul Bailey said: “We are very proud to be launching this new Standard today which presents a significant milestone in our continuing work with the professional engineering community to ensure public safety in the built environment.

“We hope the tragedy of the Grenfell Tower fire and the sad loss of 72 lives will never be seen again.”

Paul Bailey added: “UK-SPEC HRB will provide a means for those engineers and technicians working in the built environment, particularly on the design, construction, maintenance, and operation of higher-risk buildings, to become professionally registered.”

Paul Bailey further stated: “This is the first step however and it is our hope that UK-SPEC HRB is embraced and championed by the sector and the wider engineering profession, and that the Standard, and the Register of those individuals assessed against it, will support the continuing improvement of public safety across the sector.”

Fire discipline annex provides a route for registration

According to the Engineering Council, the standard includes a Fire Discipline Annex which outlines criteria aligned with the Building Safety Act.

Institution of Fire Engineers CEO Steve Hamm said: “The IFE is proud to support the launch of the Fire Discipline Annex to the UK-SPEC HRB.

“This marks a significant milestone in maintaining the highest standards of professional competence within the built environment, reflecting the growing complexity and scrutiny associated with higher-risk buildings.”

Steve Hamm added: “Fire engineering plays a crucial role across all sectors, and this annex offers a clear framework for practitioners to demonstrate their capability in line with the Building Safety Act.

“As the professional engineering institution licensed to assess against this standard, we remain committed to upholding public safety and promoting excellence across the profession, working alongside the Engineering Council and other institutions to contribute to safer, better-managed buildings.”

Emphasis placed on ethical conduct and sector-wide adoption

Dame Judith Hackitt, who chaired the 2018 Building a Safer Future review, delivered the keynote address at the launch of UK-SPEC HRB.

Dame Judith Hackitt said: “People who will uphold high standards of professional conduct themselves and call out those who undermine that in any way.”

Dame Judith Hackitt added: “This launch is very much the end of the beginning of the process.”

Dame Judith Hackitt further stated that institutions must now promote the standard and encourage its adoption throughout the sector.

HRB register aims to support housing safety ambitions

The Engineering Council said the HRB Register and the UK-SPEC HRB standard together create a mechanism to ensure engineers have the appropriate competence to work on higher-risk buildings.

In a statement, it said: “With the Government’s commitment to building 1.5 million homes over this Parliament which are of high quality, and safe now and in the future, we believe our HRB Register and UK-SPEC HRB is a key example of how this ambition can be achieved through a pipeline of suitably qualified professionals for the housing and construction market with the right skills.”

It added: “We welcome the professional engineers who have already achieved registration, and we are committed to building on this momentum.”

Standard structured to enable professional registration and revalidation

The Engineering Council confirmed that UK-SPEC HRB aligns with BS 8670 and outlines the required knowledge, behaviours and technical skills for safe practice in higher-risk buildings.

It explained that applicants can apply for Engineering Technician, Incorporated Engineer or Chartered Engineer registration through UK-SPEC HRB, with assessment supported by relevant discipline annexes and five-year revalidation requirements.

The Engineering Council stated that individuals assessed against the HRB standard must demonstrate competence in five key areas: knowledge and understanding, problem-solving, leadership, communication, and professional commitment.

Formalised assessment routes available to new and current registrants

The Engineering Council outlined three routes to registration under UK-SPEC HRB.

It said that individuals already registered with the Engineering Council can apply for HRB recognition through a Professional Review process.

It added that those not currently registered may apply for both principal and HRB registration, or for HRB registration alone, depending on their qualifications and experience.

It explained that all applicants must submit documented evidence and participate in an interview to demonstrate how they meet the required standards.

Five-year revalidation process ensures competence is maintained

According to the Engineering Council, registrants must renew their HRB status at least every five years.

It stated that this process includes submitting a portfolio of evidence and may involve an interview to assess ongoing competence.

The Council confirmed that revalidation aligns with requirements in BS 8670 and recommendations from the Setting the Bar report, which identified the need for periodic reassessment of professional capability in higher-risk settings.

Engineering competence standard introduced for higher-risk UK buildings: Summary

The Engineering Council has published the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence and Commitment contextualised for Higher-Risk Buildings (UK-SPEC HRB).

This was developed in response to recommendations made in Dame Judith Hackitt’s 2018 review commissioned after the Grenfell Tower fire.

The standard is adapted from the UK-SPEC and applies to engineers working on the design, construction, maintenance and operation of higher-risk buildings.

It includes core and discipline-specific criteria and supports professional registration at three levels: Engineering Technician, Incorporated Engineer and Chartered Engineer.

Dame Judith Hackitt called for wide adoption of the standard to uphold professional conduct in the sector.

The Institution of Fire Engineers supported the launch of the Fire Discipline Annex within the UK-SPEC HRB.

The Engineering Council said the HRB Register would help meet national housing safety targets.

Applicants can apply via professional review and must undergo revalidation every five years.

The standard references BS 8670 and is intended to support competence assurance across the built environment.

Design, then build, with Quelfire

by Breaking NewsSafety

Rebecca Croton, Content Marketing Executive at Quelfire, examines the Building Safety Act and the importance of early engagement in prioritising the fire safety of a building from the offset  

Sadly, it has taken the tragedy of the Grenfell Tower fire to expose the systemic failures of the government, construction industry and other trade bodies. In September 2024, the Grenfell Tower’s public inquiry came to a close, finding that all 72 deaths were avoidable and unsurprisingly, that the industry needed to change. And fast.  

Since June 14th 2017, the construction industry has faced increased scrutiny, resulting in the implementation of the Building Safety Act 2022. It has also borne witness to the findings and recommendations of the public inquiry.

From cost-cutting and ignored warnings to dangerous marketing and training failures, the inquiry uprooted decades of evidence that clearly highlights why the way the industry designs, builds and views fire safety must change. 

Rebecca Croton

In an interview for CIBSE Journal, Dame Judith Hackitt said: “Fire safety is, clearly, extremely important, but whatever you are working on – be it acoustics or thermal insulation – if it’s not done properly the building will not be fit for purpose.” 

Construction needs to start being recognised as a team exercise; non-compliant work will only create challenges for the stakeholders that follow.  

Aims of the Building Safety Act  

The Building Safety Act was created in response to the Grenfell Tower fire. Setting the foundation for building safety in the construction sector, it overhauls existing regulations to create lasting change. This is through setting clear guidelines on how buildings should be effectively designed, built and maintained. With one goal in mind: to protect the end user.  

The Building Safety Act now gives residents and homeowners more authority after the inquiry found that concerns of Grenfell residents about the tower’s safety were consistently ignored. What overarches the goal of the Building Safety Act is the responsibility placed on companies and individuals within the construction industry. Not only to ensure compliance with building regulations, but to demonstrate competency. 

What positive changes is the industry seeing from the Building Safety Act? 

The Building Safety Act has been a catalyst for cultural change, especially regarding attitudes towards fire safety: ‘design, then build’. In Quelfire’s ‘Navigating Gateway 2’ panel discussion at London Build 2024, Jeremy Ockenden, Technical Director at Affinity Fire, highlighted that one positive from the Building Safety Act is the current attitudes of design teams.

This being that they must collaborate and demonstrate compliance with building regulations. Ockenden said, “We have to be absolutely rock solid; there’s no let’s test the waters, let’s see if we can get away with this.” 

Furthermore, though there may be more upfront costs associated with the ‘design, then build’ approach, Graeme Whitty, National Product Director at Willmott Dixon, emphasised that contractors, consultants and product suppliers will have to be chosen earlier. Whitty added, “[The client] can’t play the game, drive lowest cost, or best-value decision.”  

Compliance with the Building Safety Act, especially when submitting a Gateway application, requires partnerships built on integrity and a commitment to getting it right the first time around. It puts fire safety first.  

Exploring the Gateway regime  

One section of the Building Safety Act is the Gateway regime. The Gateways control the flow and progress of higher-risk buildings. Planning Gateway One- at the planning application stage. Gateway Two- before building work starts. Gateway Three- when building work is completed.  

Gateways Two and Three are ‘stop and go’ checkpoints, meaning the project can only progress to the next stage once approved.  At the time of writing, looking at recent statistics for Gateway Two applications, only 11 have been approved. Nine of these have been confirmed by the Health and Safety Executive as legacy projects from AIS Chartered Surveyors or Assent Building Control; therefore, do not depict an accurate representation.  

Contractors are facing unclear submission requirements and extensive delays, with some already being rejected.

Rebecca Croton

This emphasises how difficult the Gateways are to successfully navigate, especially as the Building Safety Regulator is relatively new. A shared understanding of the ‘design, then build’ approach, the importance of early engagement and increased collaboration between all stakeholders will put projects in better stead for a successful Gateway submission – even with the uncertainty of timings and requirements. Focus on what can be controlled first – that is, working in line with tested solutions alongside the manufacturer and other stakeholders.  

What is early engagement? 

Early engagement in firestopping is what it says on the tin. It brings all parties involved in the design and installation of service penetration seals into the project’s design stage. This ensures the fire safety of the building is a priority from the outset and that the building is constructed in line with regulations and manufacturers’ guidance. This is where the ‘design then build’ model can be applied.  

Early engagement helps facilitate this approach as it’s about thoroughly planning the project – including choosing service types, insulation, and agreeing fire ratings, for instance – and ensuring there are available tested details to work to.

Rebecca Croton

Only when the design is ready can the construction phase commence. Early engagement is beneficial as it can be applied to all areas of construction, not just service penetrations.  

Does early engagement have any other benefits?  

It offers a wide range of benefits that can easily be overlooked. Most importantly, it saves live through effective compartmentation and works to available tested solutions, meaning buildings are constructed around test evidence. It also helps to avoid extra delays and costs through effective planning, ensures compliant and achievable installations and improves reputations by building trust.  

When evaluating the Building Safety Act, it can be easy to overlook all the positives, especially when faced with significant delays, lack of communication and blurred submission requirements from government bodies. But, ultimately, like all other legislation, it is there for a reason. To protect people and property and ensure Grenfell never happens again. 

Rounding up the panel discussion, Tom Hughes, Principal Building Safety Consultant at Safer Sphere, emphasised that it is vital to understand that “we’re designing and constructing people’s homes.” Early engagement. Collaboration. Design, then build. 

This article was originally published in the April 2025 Edition of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE copy, click here.

UK parliament could burn down ‘any day’ says former minister

by Breaking NewsSafety

Andrea Leadsome, former minister and current Member of Parliament for South Northamptonshire, has urged her fellow MPs to ‘get on’ with the renovation of the Parliament building to prevent at fire similar to that seen by the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris in 2019.

In 2019, MPs voted to set up a sponsor body with responsibility for the restoration of the building. A review produced by the body put the basic costs of essential repairs between £7 billion and £13 billion and estimated they would take between 19 and 28 years to complete – or 12 to 20 years if the building was fully vacated.

Some politicians have expressed concern about moving out amid plans to relocate to Richmond House in central London were vetoed, despite the body claiming that costs would increase by 40% if politicians stayed put.

Speaking to Radio 4’s Week in Westminster programme, Leadsom said a fire of the scale seen by Notre-Dame could happen in Parliament, adding that a fire in 2017 was only averted because of the presence of the 24/7 fire patrol.

“That is so ‘there but for the grace of God’,” she said. “It could burn down today, tomorrow, any day and we’ve got to make that decision and get on with it.”