Question 1

What are Registered Building Control Approvers and Registered Building Inspectors?

Accepted Answer

Following the introduction of the Building Safety Act 2022, 'Registered Building Control Approvers’ replaces the term ‘Approved Inspectors’. Individuals will be known as RBIs, or Registered Building Inspectors, which is a protected title under law.

RBIs have a range of legal obligations that they must adhere to as part of their professional conduct. This code of conduct sets out the standards of professional conduct and practice expected of RBIs. The principles given in the code of conduct set out the core professional and ethical requirements that RBIs must uphold. The standards supplement the principles, setting out requirements in relation to professional practices and behaviours that the Building Safety Regulator expects RBIs to meet. 

The code of conduct applies to all RBIs, whether they work in the private or public sector. The full code can be found here: Code of conduct for Registered Building Inspectors - GOV.UK

Question 2

How are RBI classes assigned?

Accepted Answer

An RBI will have undergone the following stages to be assigned a class:

The RBI will undergo a competency assessment that evaluates their skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours against the relevant Building Inspector Competence Frameworks. 

As part of the assessment, they will need to submit a portfolio of their work and pass an exam or an interview. RBIs must be re-assessed at least every 4 years.

Once the assessment has been completed, an RBI will receive a certificate number and be assigned an RBI class. All RBIs and their relevant class can be located within the public register: www.register-building-inspector.service.gov.uk/public-register-england

Question 3

How often are RBIs assessed?

Accepted Answer

Registrations will usually be valid for 4 years, unless varied, suspended or cancelled by the Building Safety Regulator.

Question 4

What are the four registration classes for Inspectors?

Accepted Answer

SOCOTEC has RBIs registered within all classes to ensure that you can be confident of our competence to work on your projects.

Class 1

RBIs must only work under supervision

Class 2

RBIs can work unsupervised on building categories they are registered to work on, which may include: 

Category A: Residential dwelling houses (single household) under 7.5m
Category B: Residential flats and dwelling houses under 11m
Category C: Residential flats and dwelling houses, over 11m but under 18m
Category D: All building types (including residential) under 7.5m
Category E: All building types (including residential) over 7.5m but under 11m
Category F: All building types (including residential) over 11m but under 18m

Class 2 does not include non-standard buildings or HRBs.

Class 3

RBIs can work unsupervised on building categories they are registered to work on, which may include category A to F buildings and:
Category G: All building types (including non-standard), with no limits on floor heights, excluding higher-risk buildings (HRBs)
Category H: HRBs as defined in the Building Act 1984 (as amended)

Class 4: Technical Manager

Technical managers are class 2 or class 3 Building Inspectors with additional responsibilities for the technical management of teams and processes.

A class 2 Building Inspector, who is also a class 4 technical manager, cannot carry out any class 3 activities unless supervised. 

Someone who is not a Registered Building Inspector can administratively manage a Building Control team, but not on technical matters.

Question 5

What are the eight building categories?

Accepted Answer

Under the new regime, RBIs are registered to work on specific buildings based on their individual competence. As a client, it is important that the RBCA you are working with has suitable staff to cover your project. SOCOTEC has RBIs registered to cover all categories of work. 

The eight building categories that an RBI can register to work on are: 


	Category A, residential dwelling houses (single household) under 7.5m
	Category B, residential flats and dwelling houses under 11m
	Category C, residential flats and dwelling houses, over 11m but under 18m
	Category D, all building types (including residential) under 7.5m
	Category E, all building types (including residential) over 7.5m but under 11m
	Category F, all building types (including residential) over 11m but under 18m
	Category G, all building types (including non-standard), with no limits on floor heights, excluding higher-risk buildings (HRBs)
	Category H, HRBs as defined in the Building Act 1984 (as amended)

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