Building Standards: A Better Future For Barbados

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Building StandardsA Better Future For Barbados

• Presentation to Barbados
• Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• September 26, 2007

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Background

• BAPE is a voluntary non-profit organization,
  established in 1964.
• Representing the interest of the general public
  in matters relating to public safety where the
  practice of engineering is involved.
• 300 members.
• Engineers Registration Act established in 1974.

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Regional Local Building Standards Development
1970
1981
1985
2004
1993
1998
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Revision of National Building Codes

• Building Code Revision Committees
• Technical Committee Eng. Philip Sobers
  (Chairman)
• Sub-committees
• Part 1 Building Design Management no BAPE
  rep.
• Part 2 Structural Requirements Eng. Shawn
  Greene
• Part 3 Fire Safety no BAPE rep.
• Part 4 Health Amenity Eng. Peter Thompson
• Part 5 Services Equipment Engs. Rodney
  Foster/Peter Jackman
• Part 6 Minor Structures Components no BAPE
  rep.

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BAPE Position

• Legislation of mandatory building standards
• Building Control Act
• BSA with responsibility for oversight of the
  building industry and compliance
• Provision for private sector certification
• Heavily staffed BSA inspecting all projects

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Problem Statement
It is NOT illegal for untrained persons to
construct buildings without reference to, or
acting against the advice of, registered
professionals and established standards.
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Existing BSA Proposal

• BSA will require a staff of approx. 50
  (engineers, architects, technicians etc.)
• All building and building alteration plans,
  including relatively minor internal changes, must
  be submitted to the BSA who will verify
  conformance with Code.
• The estimated 30,000 persons involved in the
  building sector will have to be registered to
  work on any building project.
• The BSA estimates the process (application to
  response) will take around 6 weeks.

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Existing BSA Proposal (contd)

• Some engineers will be allowed to self-certify
  certain aspects of their work (to be determined
  by BSA).
• Architects will NOT be allowed to self-certify
  ANY aspects of Code.
• Provision will be made for a Review Consultant
  for certain projects. The client will be required
  to pay cost of review consultant.
• Suggested that fees will be around 0.5 of
  building cost.

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Expected Problems

• Increase in building costs and delays will exceed
  BSAs estimates
• Inefficient use of resources
• Anticipated difficulties in attracting suitably
  qualified persons to fill professional posts
  created in BSA
• Department will be under-budgeted and
  under-staffed

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BAPEs Proposal

• Objective of Building Control Act should be
• To introduce a cost-effective and
  efficient regulatory framework for ensuring that
  acceptable standards of safety are maintained in
  the building sector
• Regulatory framework built on 3 main pillars
• Independent private sector verification of
  compliance to building standards using Certified
  Inspectors.
• Strictly enforced penalties (ranging from fines
  to de-registration) for non-compliance with
  provisions of the Act. (Random checks)
• Phased approach to mandating building codes,
  beginning with the most critical areas e.g.
  structural and fire safety.

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BAPEs Proposal (contd)

• CIs sign declaration of professional and
  financial independence for each job they
  undertake.
• Minister appointed Commisioner of Building
  Control
• Building Authority Board comprised of Engineers,
  Architects, business persons and Government
  representatives with small administrative staff.
  Role
• Register, de-register and monitor CIs
• Hear complaints and resolve disputes
• Conduct random inpections and monitor practices
• Validate Completion certificates issued by CIs
• Regulate fees to be charged by CIs
• All other functions needed to ensure the
  effectiveness of the BSA

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Expected Benefits

• Professional input in every building project at
  reasonable rates
• Lower operating expenses related to cost of Board
  and small administrative staff
• Best professionals available can be co-opted to
  serve on the Board at minimal cost
• Lower building costs and less delays red-tape
  by using an already large pool of professionals
  who will be capable of quickly learning and
  applying the Code.

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Similar provisions in other countries

• Australia (http//www.aib.org.au/buildingc
  odes/bca.htm )
• performance based building code system with
  "deem-to-satisfy" provisions based on
• a report from a Registered Testing Authority
• a current Certificate of Accreditation or
  Certificate of Conformity
• a certificate from a professional engineer
• a current certificate issued by a product
  certification body that has been accredited by
  the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and
  New Zealand (JAS-ANZ)
• a current Scientific Services Laboratory (SSL)
  Product Listing Data Sheet
• any other form of documentary evidence that
  adequately demonstrates suitability for use.

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Similar provisions in other countries
UK (http//www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/P
lanning/BuildingRegulations/DG_10014170)

• "Approved inspectors' building control service
• When you use an approved inspector, they will
  take responsibility for checking the plans and
  inspection of your building work.

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Similar provisions in other countries

• Singapore (http//agcvldb4.agc.gov.sg/ )
• Some terms defined in Act include Accredited
  Checker, Accredited Checking Organisation,
  Commissioner of Building Control etc.

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Responses to Concerns
BAPE Composition of authority should reflect its
responsibilities BSA Minister will be made
aware of your concerns BAPE Constitution of
Practitioners and Appeals Boards not defined i.e.
no., qual., etc. BSA ..to be determined by the
Minister BAPE The management of the Building
Code should be left to the BNSI. The authoritys
mandate should be to enforce the codes
established and managed by BNSI. BSA ..situation
s can and will arise when standards an codes not
yet established by BNSI will have to be used
immediately in relation to a particular
matter BAPE A specific time for inspecting
building work should be specified in the Act,
along with penalties and liabilities for failing
to perform duties. Act indicates any reasonable
time BSA this information will be contained in
an advisory. The BSA will endeavour to minimize
delays. BAPE The authority should be
required to provide the owner with sufficient
detail to allow the owner to respond to specific
violations BSA Not addressed. Appear to have
misinterpreted referenced clause.
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Responses to Concerns
BAPE Directors of a Corporation assumed guilty
until proven innocent (Clause 108) each
person being a director of the corporationshall
be taken to have contravened he same provision
unless the person proves that he had no knowledge
of the commission of the offence. BSA it is
usually accepted that directors of a corporation
carry collective responsibility BAPE conversel
y, the director and staff of the BBSA are
presumed innocent until proven guilty (Clause
110). Why couldnt similar tone be used for
corporations? BSA It is assumed, correctly,
that the BSA intends to do no harm to the public
who it serves but only to help.
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Thank You
Barbados Building Act / Building Standards
Authority