Certification

Certifier of Design or Construction

Certification supports verification through an optional non-mandatory route for the implementation of building regulations in Scotland and is only relevant to work that requires a building warrant.

The Building (Scotland) Act 2003 permits the design or construction of building work to be certified by qualified, experienced, and reputable building professionals and tradespeople as complying with the building regulations without the need for detailed scrutiny of designs (or inspections in certain cases)  by Local Authorities.

Certification may only be undertaken by an approved Certifier of Design or an approved Certifier of Construction who is registered in an appropriate approved certification scheme and, where relevant, holds the appropriate designation(s) in such a scheme. They must also be employed by a body (a business or other body) that has been approved as adopting suitably professional practice to provide a certification service, including quality assurance procedures to check compliance with building regulations and is registered in an appropriate approved certification scheme.

The certification system is operated by the Scottish Government's Building Standards Division (BSD) and is delivered through schemes approved by Scottish Ministers. Certification is applicable to both design and construction of building work. Schemes are audited annually by BSD.

Certification is:

• embedded in the Act;
• embedded in the building warrant process;
• embedded in the Verification during Construction (CCNP) Process /reasonable inquiry.

The following schemes and scheme providers have been approved

If you want to know more about the Approved Body or Certifier under these scheme go to the Scottish Building Standards Certification (SBSC) website.​

For further information refer to:

• Certifier of design
• Certifier of construction