RIAS-Energy Design Certification Scheme received Ministerial Approval on the 21st August 2007 and was actively launched on 1st October 2007.

RIAS-Energy Design Certification Scheme is now approving Certifiers of Design who are issuing Certificates of Design.

RIAS-Energy Design Certification Scheme also allows members to produce and register Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) within the same quality assurance environment.

The Frequently Asked Questions section has been divided into How and Why to Join and How Does the Scheme Work

How and Why to Join

Who is eligible to join?
All architects who are registered with the Architects Registration Board and all those members of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists who are MCIAT or TCIAT and wish to be able to certify that their designs comply with Section 6 - Energy (Domestic) of the Scottish Building Regulations (www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Building/Building-standards/profinfo/cert) are entitled to apply to join the scheme.

RIAS-Energy Design Certification Scheme will also consider applications from other suitably qualified Construction Professionals on a case by case basis. The Membership Criteria are published on the website.

Why should I join?
As an Approved Certifier of Design you will be kept up to date with Section 6 - Energy (Domestic) of the Scottish Building Regulations, and be able to deliver a 10% saving on warrant application fees.

In addition, you will be able to provide Energy Performance Certificates for new homes, (which are required before a Completion Certificate is accepted by the local authority) which you can assure your clients meet the requirement of the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Act.

Can I certify the design of Section 6 - Energy (Domestic) if there are no changes to the external fabric of the building?
Yes, Section 6 - Energy (Domestic) is a material consideration for all warrant applications even if the works are only internal. Certifying the Design of Section 6, still delivers a 10% saving on the warrant application fee (as long as it is submitted with the warrant).

How do I Join?
There are three steps to membership.

What does an Approved Body do?
Certificates of design can only be issued by an Approved Certifier of Design working for an Approved Body. An Approved Body can be a sole practitioner, a Company, an Architectural Practice, an Architectural Department or Section within a bigger organisation such as a house builder, developer or local authority, which is registered as having both one or more Approved Certifiers of Design and one Certification Coordinator. An alternative Certification Coordinator may be appointed to cover periods of absence when the Certification Coordinator is unavailable to countersign certificates.

What happens if I change jobs?
If you are a Certifier of Design and wish to Certify for your new employer, you have to apply for a new Approved Body. RIAS-Energy Design Certification Scheme then has to go through the checks for this new Approved Body as per steps 4 and 5 of the joining process.

What does a Certification Coordinator do?
Every Section 6 certificate must be signed by an Approved Certifier of Design and Certification Coordinator. At least one Certification Coordinator must be appointed by every Approved Body. They will have the responsibility of ensuring that the Approved Body complies with the requirements of the scheme to maintain up to date records and that the Approved Certifiers of Design are registered and resourced to undertake the task etc.

I am a sole practitioner, can I sign twice?
Yes, the Approved Certifier of Design can act as the Certification Coordinator of that Approved Body.

What support is RIAS-Energy Design Certification Scheme providing for the scheme?
Aside from the learning materials and guidance, RIAS-Energy Design Certification Scheme has entered into an agreement with SUST and Strathclyde University to provide a series of intensive 2 day course which concentrate on the SAP calculation process. For those who prefer class room based learning.

For the dates of the next courses or to register your interest in the course please let the RIAS-Energy Design Certification Scheme Administrator know.

What happens if I fail the competency tests?
You can re-take the modules and there is no additional cost. If you repeatedly fail the tests RIAS-Energy Design Certification Scheme will advise undertaking the Strathclyde course and then resitting the tests.

Does following the guidance and completing the competency test count towards CPD?
Yes.

What are the costs

What does it cost to register my interest?
Absolutely nothing, registering your interest enables RIAS-Energy Design Certification Scheme to keep you informed of the scheme as it is developed.

What will it cost to apply to join the scheme?
The standard joining fee to be a member of the Scheme is £150.00+VAT (subject to annual review).

Does it cost more to become a Practice Coordinator as well?
No.

What does it cost to register as an Approved Body?
Nothing.

What will it cost to remain a Member of the Scheme?
There is a £50.00 per annum subscription renewal charge (subject to annual review).

Membership will run annually from the date of subscribing.

What will it cost to change my Approved Body?
There is a rejoining fee of £50.00 this also resets the date of your annual subscription (subject to annual review).

What SAP software can I use?
After December 1st 2009, new Members can use any approved SAP software purchased at their own expense.

Existing members before December 1st 2009, can take advantage of the free use of the Energy Design Tools SAP calculator for a limited introductory period until the end of March 2010 or until the date of their subscription renewal.

What will it cost to register a Section 6 (Domestic) or EPC Certificate?
Section 6 registration fee:
£15.00 for works to one dwelling costing less £15,000
£25.00 for works to one dwelling costing £15,001 or more
For multiple dwellings £25 each for the first 5 tailing off to £10 each dwelling beyond 20 - all certificates are individual.

Energy Performance Certificate registration fee: £10.00 per dwelling - all certificates are individual

All certificate prices exclude VAT

All certificate prices are subject to annual review.

Why just Section 6 - Energy (Domestic)?
RIAS-Energy Design Certification Scheme believe that Section 6 -Energy (Domestic) most readily lent itself to on-line competency testing as software calculation tools are inherent to Section 6 and European legislation requires EPC's to be issued for new dwellings built on a warrant registered after May 2007.

How Does the Scheme Work?

What details do you check?
During the registration process you will be asked to confirm a user name, password, contact details and your ARB registration number or your CIAT membership number as appropriate.

RIAS-Energy Design Certification Scheme will then verify that you are registered with ARB or are a MCIAT/TCIAT member. (For non-members of ARB or CIAT RIAS-Energy Design Certification Scheme will request additional details of your experience and / or qualifications, which will be reviewed on an individual basis) after which you will receive an email confirming your log-on details and can then proceed to subscribing. See the website for the Membership Criteria.

What is in the support material?
RIAS-Energy Design Certification Scheme have developed 6 learning modules, designed to ensure that members can:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of scheme membership, including the role of the Certification Coordinator and the legal framework which allows Certification
• Demonstrate compliance with Standard 6.1 by the elemental method for alterations
• Demonstrate compliance by the compensatory method for more complex alterations
• Demonstrate compliance by SAP for new housing
• Certify compliance with Section 6 to include backstops
• Certify that compliance with Section 6 / Domestic does not compromise compliance with parts 1-5.

Each module will take between 1 and 2 hours, at the end of which RIAS-Energy Design Certification Scheme will assess whether you are competent and register you as an Approved Certifier of Design.

What if I fail?
You can redo the competency tests at no additional cost, however if you fail repeatedly RIAS-Energy Design Certification Scheme may suggest that you undertake additional training.

What happens when I pass?
Once you have successfully completed the modules, you can register EPCs.

Why do I need an Approved Body and Certification Coordinator?
It is a requirement of the Building Standards Division of the Scottish Government who regulated RIAS-Energy Design Certification Scheme and similar schemes.

What does an Approved Body need to demonstrate?
That each Section 6 certificate is covered by PI Insurance and that you have a Certification Coordinator with overall responsibility for maintaining an audit trail for each certificate.

What happens when my Approved Body is approved?
Your name will be added to the register of Approved Certifiers of Design of Section 6 - Energy (Domestic) and your registration details passed to the Scottish Building Standards Agency.

Are there any further checks?
Yes, it is a requirement that all schemes audit their members' performance and every member will be audited at least once within the first 5 years. The details of the audit procedure will be published soon, but essentially will consist of an interview with the Approved Certifier of Design and Certification Coordinator plus a check on one or more projects. In the event of a complaint or repeated queries from Verifiers regarding certificates etc RIAS-Energy Design Certification Scheme may make a spot check.

What happens if I fail an audit?
We think it unlikely that any member who has demonstrated competency will fail an audit, however if that happens then RIAS-Energy Design Certification Scheme can suspend or rescind membership, RIAS-Energy Design Certification Scheme may recommend undertaking in-depth training provided by others prior to resubmitting to join.

In the event that a member of the scheme feels that they have been unfairly treated then their case will be assessed by an independent appeals panel. Irrespective of the final decision the member will not be entitled to a refund of their joining or annual membership fees.

Who checks RIAS-Energy Design Certification Scheme?
As Scheme Provider RIAS-Energy Design Certification Scheme is subject to annual audit by the Building Standards Division of the Scottish Government, who will be assessing that the running of the scheme is fully in compliance with the original application and their Scheme Providers Handbook available for download on www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Building/Building-standards/profinfo/cert/certhandbook

How do I issue a certificate of design?
The scheme covers all forms of domestic projects, from minor alterations to new housing. Compliance can be assessed in five ways:

• Elemental U values - Existing buildings
• Compensatory approach
• SAP calculation
• Adoption of 1 of the TER Specification Packages

For each project you will be required to enter the warrant application details that appear on the warrant application form, plus the method used to show compliance.

Both you and your Certification Coordinator must sign the certificate for it to become valid. In the case of a sole practitioner you will be able to sign in both capacities.

RIAS-Energy Design Certification Scheme will be adding over time guidance to the website regarding compliance methodologies, the changes proposed to the regulations and the information required to be included with a building warrant.

Can I continue to use my existing SAP software?
Yes as long as it is approved by the BRE and you have either been trained or can pass RIAS-Energy Design Certification Scheme practical SAP test using it.

Details of approved software can be found at http://projects.bre.co.uk/sap2005/

Can I rely on a SAP prepared by someone else?
Yes if they are a member of RIAS-Energy Design Certification Scheme or recognised by RIAS-Energy Design Certification Scheme as qualified to prepare SAPs.

What happens when a certificate of design is issued?
On receipt of the certificate with the warrant application, the Local Authority MUST check that the certificate has been signed by an Approved Certifier of Design for Section 6 (Domestic) and by the Certification Coordinator at the Approved Body. Once the certificate has been recorded as valid the application is registered with the discount on the warrant fee.

What happens if the project is altered on site?
If, as often happens, the project is altered during construction the applicant must apply for an amendment to warrant before carrying out the change. As a member of the scheme you will be able to issue a new Section 6 Certificate to cover any design changes (assuming they still comply).

Can I certify a Stage warrant?
Yes

How do I produce an Energy Performance Certificate?
When new houses are completed an Energy Performance Certificate must be provided to the local authority to allow them to issue a completion certificate.

All of the approved software programs produce an EPC along with the SAP calculation. When submitted to the local authority they must satisfy themselves that the EPC is compliant and has been produced by someone who is independent and expert, before accepting the warrant completion certificate.

The Building Standards Division of the Scottish Government has confirmed that Certifiers of Design Section 6 (Energy) - Domestic are "independent and expert" once you register your EPC with RIAS-Energy Design Certification Scheme you can provide the Local Authority with confirmation that your EPC is covered by the Scheme and that they need not check the underlying calculation.

Who signs the certificate?
Every certificate of design must be signed by an Approved Certifier of Design and the Certification Coordinator within your Approved Body.

Where are the registration details kept?
The BSD Certification Register can be found on the BSD website www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Building/Building-standards/profinfo/cert/certreg and is used by local authority Verifiers to check the registration status of Approved Certifiers of Design and Approved Bodies in Scotland, based on information provided by RIAS-Energy Design Certification Scheme as Scheme Provider.

RIAS-Energy Design Certification Scheme in conjunction with our partner, Just-Ask Limited will maintain a register of Approved Certified Designers of Section 6 (Domestic), all the issued certificates of design and registered EPCs. This information will be retained electronically with secure back up.

Do I need to renew my membership?
Yes, it is a requirement of the scheme that both Approved Certifiers of Design and Approved Bodies are kept up to date with changes to the regulations. Annual renewal is required to maintain the register.

What happens if I change employer?
You membership is suspended until you provide details of your new Approved Body and these are approved.

Can I be removed from the scheme?
Yes, Approved Certifiers of Design who fail to maintain their membership of the scheme or fail to demonstrate competency when asked, or are subject to any form of disciplinary procedure by the RIAS, RIBA, CIAT or ARB can be removed from the register. In due course RIAS-Energy Design Certification Scheme, as part of the scheme provider duties, will develop a process of notification and appeals system for any such eventuality.

Can Approved Bodies be removed from the register?
Yes, Approved Bodies who fail to meet the requirements of the audit process or no longer have either an Approved Certifier of Design or a Certification Coordinator will be suspended from the register.

What happens if I choose to leave?
Membership of the scheme runs for a period of one year. If you choose to withdraw from the scheme for any reason you will no longer be entitled to certify the design of projects. The online Certification Register will be updated to reflect your new status with immediate effect. There will be no refund of your annual subscription.

If I leave can I access old data?
You will have access to the data for all your certificates for the lifetime of the scheme.

Is the scheme available off-line?
No. The scheme has been specifically designed to facilitate the on-line completion of the competency tests, certification and administration.