Certification of Design - Section 6 (Domestic)

RIAS-regs which received Ministerial approval on August 21st 2007 has been actively accepting applications and Approving Certifiers of Design since 1st October 2007.

RIAS-regs Section 6 certificates are now being accepted by local authorities.

Background

The Building (Scotland) Act 2003 provides the opportunity for design professionals practising in Scotland to be able to certify that their design meets one or more Sections of the regulations. This comes with responsibility and to do this, they have to achieve a level of expertise in a Section of the standards that allows their work in that particular area to be exempt from the scrutiny of verification. Certification of design is only possible for designers if they have gained membership of a certification scheme approved by Scottish Ministers such as RIAS-regs.

RIAS-regs proposal

The new Section 6 (Domestic) came into force on 1st May 2007. RIAS-regs can now accredit all ARB registered Architects, Chartered Architectural Technologists and other suitably qualified and experienced professionals as being able to certify that their designs meet all the requirements of Section 6 (Domestic) of the building regulations. In the case of new build housing this is compliance with the following standards:

6.0 Introduction
6.1 Carbon dioxide emissions
6.2 Building insulation envelope
6.3 Heating system
6.4 Insulation of pipes, ducts and vessels
6.5 Artificial and display lighting
6.6 Mechanical ventilation and air conditioning
6.7 Commissioning building services
6.8 Written information
6.9 Energy performance certificates
6.10 Metering

Additional benefits

1. Applications for a building warrant, supported by a valid Certificate of Design for Section 6, will be eligible for a 10% discount on the warrant application fee payable by your clients.

2. You will receive unlimited access to bespoke user-friendly SAP software that allows you to develop your designs in the knowledge that they comply. The software is specifically designed to allow design professionals to test alternative design solutions and track on-site changes, so that when your client requires an Energy Performance Certificate (EU Directive – 2002/91/EC) prior to completion you can retrieve the calculation and issue a certificate.

3. As long as you remain a member of the scheme, you will be kept up to date with the latest regulations.

The first step to becoming Approved Certifier of Design of Section 6 (Domestic) is to register your interest on-line by using the Register Now link. This will also allow the RIAS to keep you informed of the development of the scheme.