Roche to unveil Bill regulating building industry

A new Bill to regulate professions and building practices in the construction industry is to be announced by Minister for the Environment Dick Roche today.

The Building Control Bill seeks to compile a register of architects and building and quantity surveyors, ending the loophole that currently allows unqualified people to set themselves up in these professions.

The Bill is also aimed at ensuring more energy-efficient building practices, better provision for people with disabilities and stricter fire protection controls.

Describing the advent of the Bill as "a good day for the consumer", Mr Roche said it would be seen in years to come as a landmark in consumer law.

"This Bill, together with new Building Control Regulations which I will be announcing shortly, will put Ireland to the forefront of the EU in driving energy efficiency in our homes, offices, factories and other commercial buildings. This will be a win/win situation for energy savings and the environment."

In addition to its new institutional arrangements, the Bill will provide for enhanced levels of inspection and enforcement.

"With building activity running at all-time record levels in Ireland, it makes sense to strengthen our building control system, and to seek to improve the energy performance of our existing and new building stock," said Mr Roche.

The higher energy-saving requirements will extend from houses to commercial buildings in a bid to achieve Ireland's greenhouse gas emission obligations under the Kyoto protocol. The Bill will also require builders to assess the economic and technical feasibility of alternative renewable energy systems during the design of large new buildings of over 1,000sq m (10,800 sq ft), with effect from July 1st, 2006.

Sustainable Energy Ireland is to publish software in 2006 that will assist designers in carrying out such assessments.

Commenting on the regulation of the professions, Mr Roche said the time was "long overdue for legislation to protect consumers from unqualified people passing themselves off as qualified building professionals.

"This [ will] mean that only qualified people on a statutory register will in future be entitled to use these titles."

The statutory registration system for architects is to be administered by the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland, and for building surveyors and quantity surveyors by the Society of Chartered Surveyors.

The eligibility criteria for registration will not, however, be decided by the relevant registration bodies. "The Bill lays down a rigorous system to ensure that the highest standards are met."

In terms of fire protection controls, the Bill seeks better compliance with the disability access requirements of current building regulations, and gives teeth to the enforcement of building control legislation.

"The introduction of a disability access certificate will ensure that the disability compliance requirements of the building code are fully respected," said Mr Roche.

Alongside today's publication of the Bill, a public consultation is also being initiated on the review of building control standards as they relate to disability.

"This is a progressive Bill. It is a Bill which will be welcomed by all who interact with the building industry and those within it who are entitled to have their reputation protected," said Mr Roche.