The following are definitions of some of the terminology used within this website

Approved Body
A firm, public body, or other organisation that employs at least one Approved Certifier of Design and operates systems to check compliance with Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004, holds appropriate insurances, provides access for certifiers to up-to-date regulations, codes, guidance, and training. Bodies approved by a scheme provider can certify compliance with the building regulations if both a registered Certification Coordinator counter-signs certificates issued by an Approved Certifier of Design.

Approved Certifier of Design
An individual with appropriate qualifications, experience, and understanding of the role of certifier to certify that specified aspects of design comply with the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004. Certifiers of Design may be approved by a scheme provider under Section 7(2) of the Act or by the Scottish Ministers under Section 7(1). They may only issue certificates that are counter-signed by an Approved Body. They must keep a record of all the certificates of design that they issue.

Certification Coordinator
An individual registered as responsible for signing certificates on behalf of an Approved Body. The Certification Coordinator acts as the contact point for the Approved Body and is responsible for maintaining the system of checking, insurance policies, access to documents, training and handling complaints.

Scheme provider
An organisation that operates one or more schemes to certify compliance with Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 for specified aspects of a project. The SBSA criteria for approval of scheme providers include evidence of status, expertise in relevant aspects of design or construction, capacity to operate schemes, financial probity, and appropriate disciplinary procedures.

Certificates of design
A building owner or developer may use a certificate of design to support an application for building warrant. A certificate of design certifies that design described in the application complies with the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 and is only valid under the Act when issued by an Approved Certifier of Design. Certificates might also be used to reassure building owners of the compliance of work that is exempt from warrant. Each certificate that is issued by a section 7(2) Approved Certifier of Construction must be counter-signed by the Certification Coordinator of an Approved Body that belongs to the same scheme.

Verifier
Verifiers are appointed to verify that work complies with Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004, both in terms of design and construction. The Scottish Ministers have appointed the 32 local authorities in Scotland as Verifiers. The work of verification will usually be undertaken by their Building Standards Departments. Verifiers verify applications for building warrants and must make reasonable enquiry to assess whether completion certificates should be accepted. They must accept certificates by registered Approved Certifiers of Design or construction as conclusive of the matters certified. Verifiers do not scrutinise certified matters and are only expected to check that, for Section 7(2) approvals, the Approved Certifier of Design, Certification Coordinator and Approved Body were appropriately registered on the date the certificate was signed.