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The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has expressed its concern that changes to Document L of the Building Regulations, laid on 5th March 2002, will establish a plethora of self-certification schemes covering the installation of combustion appliances, drainage (surface and foul) equipment, and replacement glass and doors.
Whilst FMB supports the sustainability principles behind the changes to Part L of the Building Regulations, which are part of the Government's energy efficiency strategy to implement its Kyoto Protocol commitments, FMB External Affairs Director, Andrew Large, says it cannot support the introduction of multiple self-certification schemes across narrow sectors of the construction industry. The multiplicity of schemes is likely be economically damaging to firms in the industry and could render them uncompetitive with rogue traders.
Citing poor consultation as a factor in the problem, Andrew Large said:
"We believe that the consultation process prior to the drafting of the Statutory Instrument (SI) was inadequate. Instead of limiting consultation to Building Regulations Committees and specialist associations, the consultation should have been much wider to include the representatives of the tens of thousands of construction firms that work in the general building trade. As a result, the proposals do not reflect the views of the majority of general building firms, and they do not build on existing schemes, such as our own MasterBond and the National Register of Warranted Builders, on which customers can already rely."
Overlapping Schemes
The FMB believes that the creation of a multitude of self-certification schemes covering small parts of building activity will lead to duplication and extra bureaucracy. The Government is currently reviewing its Quality Mark scheme pilots that cover all aspects of domestic repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI) work.
Said Andrew Large:
"The establishment of self-certification schemes now could prejudice Quality Mark as the introduction of registration fees and requirements for every application would lead to confusion. It would be better to allow the Quality Mark review to run its course and then decide if any self-certification is appropriate."
Eliminating the shadow economy
The FMB believes that there are better ways to drive up standards and improve consumer protection. These include the reduction of VAT on domestic RMI work to 5% (which would end the price advantage enjoyed by builders in the shadow economy) and the introduction of a statutory insurance backed warranty scheme for RMI work.
Increasing Burdens on Business
The first year costs of joining the Self-Certification Schemes are estimated to be thousands of pounds. For replacement windows, the alternative (application to Local Authority Building Control) is likely to cost at least £150 per installation.
Said Andrew Large:
"There are serious doubts about the capacity of Building Control to manage the extra applications from all of the sectors. The costs imposed are likely to be prohibitive for general builders undertaking a small number of installations per year. Such charges will create a real incentive to swell the shadow economy, which is precisely the opposite of what was intended."
First posted: 07 March 2002. Last modified: 07 March 2002.
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