Applications open for ICE and IStructE higher-risk buildings competency register

The ICE and the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) have launched a new competency register for members working as structural engineering designers on higher-risk buildings (HRBs).

These HRBs are defined by the Building Safety Act. An HRB in England is a minimum of 18m tall or has at least seven storeys, and contains at least two residential units or is a care home or hospital.

The register aims to assure clients, the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) and others that registered engineers involved in the design of HRBs possess the legally required skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours.

It also has the added benefit of reducing the likelihood of delay, extra costs and other unexpected impacts.

ICE director general, Dr Janet Young, said the register is "an important step to increase public transparency".

"As civil, infrastructure, and structural engineers, we are committed to ethical practice. An essential part of this is putting safety at the heart of everything we do," she said.

Yasmin Becker, CEO of IStructE, highlighted the need for these specialists: "With some 12,500 HRBs to be assessed by 2029, competent engineers are and will be in demand.

"We therefore welcome applicants to be tested in this specialist discipline."

Why was the register developed?

The new register was developed in response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy, aligning with the Building Safety Act’s objective to raise standards in the industry following the fire. The relevant supporting regulations came into force for duty holders in England in October 2023.

The act also appointed the UK government's Health and Safety Executive as the new BSR.

The creation of the BSR, the building control authority for HRBs, is one of several actions that the government has taken based on the Hackitt report.

In the response to the Grenfell Inquiry report, published yesterday, the UK government confirmed that it will accept these recommendations in full.

Speaking on the response, Young said: "The government is right to describe Grenfell as a systemic failure; it was a tragic event that never should have happened."

She highlighted that the recommendations align with the ICE's call for improved governance and competence, as detailed in its 2018 report, In Plain Sight. A follow-up report is expected later this year.

Find out more about the HRB register

Who is the new register for?

The new register is aimed at engineers who are professionally qualified or meet the criteria to become professionally qualified, working in the structural design and delivery of HRBs.

As with the professional qualification, there will be three levels of registration: Chartered, Incorporated and Technician.

What is the new standard?

The ICE and IStructE were granted a joint licence by the Engineering Council UK to manage the application process for the HRB (Structures) Register.

It will assess engineers against a new standard known as the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence and Commitment contextualised for Higher-Risk Buildings (UK-SPEC HRB).

UK-SPEC HRB is supplemented by discipline-specific annexes for:

• Structural engineering
• Fire engineering
• Building services engineering

The standard is based on the BSI standard Core Criteria for building safety in competence frameworks – BSI flex 8670.

The HSE has developed guidance for the new HRB regime, including the requirements for competence declarations.

BSI has also provided other specification guidance documents for the new Building Safety Act roles. 

How to apply to the register

1. Eligibility

To be eligible to apply to join the register, you must be a current member of the ICE or IStructE in a professional grade of membership.

You need to have met the academic standards in force at the time of your application for ICE/IStructE professional membership.

You must have at least five years of experience since gaining your professional grade of membership.

2. Collate and submit your application

Along with the application form and a CV, you will need to submit five experience report forms, one for each of the five main UK-SPEC HRB competences:

• Knowledge and understanding
• Design, development and solving engineering problems
• Responsibility, management and leadership
• Communication and interpersonal skills
• Personal and professional commitment

The application form, CV and experience report forms should be sent to [email protected].

You also need to prepare a portfolio of supporting evidence to be sent to the reviewers upon request, not within the application.

The application fee is £210.

3. Assessment

After your application has been checked, you will be invited to an interview that will be conducted by two HRB registrants.

The interview will be held online and will last 60-90 minutes.

Your reviewers will submit a report with a recommendation to the ICE/IStructE HRB Joint Committee, which makes the final decision.

For more details on the application process, read the guidance notes.