SER operates to safeguard building safety by ensuring:
- competent Chartered Engineers sign-off on building designs in accordance with Scottish Building Regulations;
- the competence of Certifiers’ through annual Continuous Professional Development (CPD);
- the auditing of certifier’s work and their performance.
Since its formation 20 years ago, SER has worked successfully to maintain high standards, so that the Scottish building control system’s procedures are followed. A similar system also operates in Jersey, with both being overseen by a Registration Board.
Norman Train, chair of the SER Board, said of the 20-year anniversary: “The SER Scheme is an important one for building safety. The whole process brings together experts from engineering design and local government to ensure buildings are compliant with the Regulations.”
The Scottish Registration Board’s members are experienced Chartered Engineers, with the necessary knowledge of the certification process and the Scottish building control system. They are responsible for assessing applications for membership of the scheme and auditing members’ certification activities.
The system in Scotland is designed so that the proposed building work meets the building regulations. A Building Warrant is needed before building work can start, which means that the building design needs to be largely complete before a warrant can be approved. The scheme checks:
- the loadings on the building;
- how stability of the building is achieved;
- how the requirements for disproportionate collapse are being met;
- the design of critical elements and their connections or fixings;
- the specification of the materials, components, testing.
Norman Train concludes: “SER looks ahead to a future with structural safety, compliance and competency continuing to be at the heart of Scotland’s building process.”
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Notes for Editors
For further information: IStructE Newsroom on 07930 34 55 43
About SER Ltd: Structural Engineers Registration Ltd (SER) is a wholly owned trading company of the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE). It was an outcome of the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 and was formed with the support of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).
https://www.ser-ltd.com/
SER Certification means the design of the building described in the warrant application complies with the relevant standards in the Building Regulations.
SER Ltd runs two schemes for the certification of the design of building structures, one in Scotland and one in Jersey:
- Scotland - BSD (Scottish Government's Building Standards Department)
- Jersey - States of Jersey IHE (Infrastructure, Housing and Environment).