Futures Board

Overview

The Building Standards Futures Board was set up at the beginning of 2019 to provide guidance and direction on the development and implementation of recommendations made by the Review Panels on Compliance and Enforcement and Fire Safety. The Review Panels were formed by the Ministerial Working Group on Building and Fire Safety following failings in the construction of Edinburgh School Buildings and the fire at Grenfell Tower, London.

Remit

The Board’s remit is to strategically advise and direct a broad programme of work aimed at improving the performance, expertise, resilience and sustainability of the Scottish building standards framework and services across Scotland.

Work streams are being taken forward by Building Standards Division, Scottish Government, involving a range of stakeholders from construction industry organisations, professional and public bodies including Scottish Futures Trust, Skills Development Scotland, Universities and local authorities (through Local Authority Building Standards Scotland - LABSS).

Outcome

The introduction of the Scottish Building Standards Hub (SBSH - www.sbsh.scot) which takes over responsibility for the Scottish Type Approval Process (STAS), Information Papers and Dispute Resolution. 

 

Scottish Building Standards Hub

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Building Standards Blogs

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Digital Transformation Strategy

An eBuilding standards national portal was introduced in 2016. The portal enables the electronic submission of applications for building warrants and other forms, such as completion certificates. This project will explore how digital technology can support and enhance building standards.

BSH Digital Hub - Digital Transformation Group (DTG)
The Digital Hub will act on behalf of LABSS to - investigate the extent of digitalisation that presently exists within Scottish Building Standards Services, - assess the good and bad points of solutions in place, and - suggest a level of best practice that exists at present taking account of limitations that may exist within the various Local Authorities, the Scottish Government’s e-Development Portal and what is readily available to applicants, agents and developers.

Futures Board Seven Workstreams

The Board’s remit is to strategically advise and direct a broad programme of work aimed at improving the performance, expertise, resilience and sustainability of the Scottish building standards framework and services across Scotland through seven specific areas of improvement work areas.

Verification Workforce Strategy

The workforce strategy will focus on identifying what is required to underpin a verification service for the future.

Compliance Plan

Large complex projects often change during the construction journey. Recent building failures have highlighted the need to ensure that designs, receiving a building warrant, are constructed in accordance with that design (especially the safety critical features). A compliance plan approach for complex and high value public buildings is being explored.

Certification Strategy

Re-appointment of current Certification bodies is ongoing and due to be completed by March 2020. A strategy for the future development of certification is being prepared to identify priorities and a range of short, medium and long term actions.

Technical Strategy

Technical guidance is used to meet building regulations and assist with compliance with the mandatory functional standards. A review on how the Technical Handbooks are developed and communicated is being undertaken. The technical strategy will direct how Scottish Government updates and provides guidance in the future. The technical strategy may encompass more digital options to improve compliance.

Verification Standards

A review of the Operating and Performance Frameworks to assist verifiers in assessing their service against requirements is being undertaken. Verification standards will focus on the quality with which verification work is undertaken linking with the skills and experience of verifiers and applicants.