New energy efficiency regulations, due in December 2005, will place an unmanageable strain on building control departments, the chair of RICS’s building control forum, Tracy Aarons, told a BRE conference last month.

Calling on the government to slow down, Aarons said there aren’t enough building control professionals around as it is. Her concerns are:

  • Proposed changes are fundamental, so building control officers need time to get ready. But consultation documents are sketchy;
  • A new rule which says any refurbishment project over £8,000 means the whole building has to be upgraded on energy efficiency will be impossible to police in the domestic sector;
  • Trade associations will be expected to produce more detailed guidance – which will have to be vetted by building control.

Source

Construction Manager