RIAS-regs received Ministerial Approval on the 21st August 2007 and was actively launched on 1st October 2007.

RIAS-regs is now approving Certifiers of Design who are now issuing Certificates of Design.

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 practising members of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists who wish to be able to certify that their designs comply with Section 6 (Domestic) of the Scottish Building Regulations (www.sbsa.gov.uk/) will be entitled to apply to join the scheme.

RIAS-regs will also consider applications from other suitably qualified individuals.

Why should I join?
As an Approved Certifier of Design you will be kept up to date with Section 6 (Domestic) of the Scottish Building Regulations, have unlimited access to up to date SAP software 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 is required before a Completion Certificate is accepted by the local authority.

Can I certify the design of Section 6 (Domestic) if there are no changes to the external fabric of the building?
Yes, Section 6 (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).

Why should I register?
If you register your interest on-line RIAS-regs can keep you informed of the development of the scheme and you will save 20% of the cost of receiving the scheme guidance and taking the competency tests.

How do I become an Approved Certifier of Design?
RIAS-regs has developed Learning Materials, guidance and a series of on-line competency tests. To join the scheme you will be asked to complete a test to allow RIAS-regs to assess your level of competency and register you as an Approved Certifier of Design.

What does an Approved Body do?
Certificates of design are 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 does a Certification Coordinator do?
Every 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-regs providing for the scheme?
RIAS-regs will be holding a series of CPD workshops to fully explain the workings and advantages of the scheme.

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-regs will advise regarding the sources of in depth training that are available.

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

What does it cost to register my interest?
Absolutely nothing, registering your interest enables RIAS-regs 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 £120.00. This pays for the scheme guidance, the accreditation process and access to SAP software which alone ranges in price from £200 upwards from other providers.

The joining fee excludes VAT, which will be added at 17.5%

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 an Approved Certifier of Design?
£50.00

Membership will run annually from the date of subscribing to become an ACoD.

What will it cost to use the SAP software?
The SAP software will be free to all members of the scheme to use.

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

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

All certificate prices exclude VAT, which will be added at 17.5%

Why just Section 6 (Domestic)?
RIAS-regs believe that Section 6 (Domestic) most readily lends 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 from May 2007. However, compliance with Section 6 (Domestic) also requires consideration of the impact on Sections 1-5 and RIAS-regs is working closely with the SBSA to develop a scheme proposal which meets regulatory requirements.

How Does the Scheme Work?

What is the process of joining?
The first step is to register your interest. This is free and carries no obligation, but allows RIAS-regs to keep you informed of the progress of the scheme as it develops. It also enables us to plan for the total number of scheme members and number of certificates that will be issued.

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-regs will then verify that you are registered with ARB or are a member of CIAT. (For non-members of ARB or CIAT RIAS-regs 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.

What is in the support material?
RIAS-regs 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-regs 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-regs may suggest that you undertake additional training provided by other organisations.

What happens when I pass?
Once you have successfully completed the modules, your name will be added to the register of Approved Certifiers of Design of Section 6 (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 member�s 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-regs 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-regs can suspend or rescind membership, RIAS-regs 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-regs?
As Scheme Provider RIAS-regs is subject to annual audit by the SBSA, who will be assessing that the running of the scheme is fully in compliance with the original application and their Scheme Providers Handbook.

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:

• No material changes to the external envelope
• 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, if all reference modules have been completed.

How will the on-line SAP work?
For new build housing you will have access to the on-line SAP calculation software, which allows you to enter details of the design. This calculation stays live, allowing you to amend the calculation during the design process up to the point you wish to issue a certificate of design. The SAP calculation will always use the latest SAP version until a certificate is issued and it is only at this point that you will pay a fee to register the certificate.

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-regs practical SAP test using it. RIAS-regs expect that when it becomes available our on-line SAP software will be user friendly and is of course free.

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

What happens when a certificate of design is issued?
When a certificate of design is issued, the details of the calculation (if SAP based) and the certificate are stored on the database. 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 re-awaken the original calculation and make any revisions that are required. The system will then recalculate the SAP rating, based on the relevant SAP version and re-issue a certificate.

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.

When new houses are completed a copy of the Energy Performance Certificate must be provided to the local authority to allow them to accept the completion certificate.

For those projects that have been designed using the system SAP, you will be able to re-awaken the original calculation, confirm any changes (if there are changes the system will recalculate using the SAP version current at the time of application) and produce an EPC. At this point there is a small charge for registering the EPC on the system.

For those projects where a SAP calculation has been completed separately, you will be asked to enter the project details and the SAP rating. The system will then generate an EPC. When the local authority receives the copy of the EPC as part of the submission of the completion certificate, they must check that the details on the EPC match the original warrant approval and any amendments and that either you are an Approved Certifier of Design or that EPC matches the original SAP calculation submitted with the warrant application.

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.

Do I have to add in all the detailed information?
No, in a busy design office, it may well be that other staff are given access to input basic data, however, the Approved Certifier of Design will be expected to check and confirm the data inputs before a certificate of design for Section 6 (Domestic) can be issued.

Where are the registration details kept?
The SBSA Certification Register can be found on the SBSA website 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-regs as Scheme Provider.

RIAS-regs in conjunction with our partner, Just-Ask Limited will maintain a register of Approved Certified Designers of Section 6 (Domestic) and all the issued certificates of design and 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.

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-regs, 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.