Building Standards - Latest News
The latest information updates from Building Standards are available below and from the 'Related Downloads' link on this page.
Should you require any further information regarding any items below or encounter any difficulty accessing the documents , please do not hesitate to contact the Building Standards office by email or by phoning 01856873535 extension 2729.
04.08.2021
Building Standards Division - Consultations
There are currently three Building Standards Division consultations open on the Scottish Government website which may be of interest to stakeholders of the Scottish Building Standards system.
Scottish Building Regulations: Proposed changes to Energy Standards and associated topics, including Ventilation, Overheating and Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure.
The consultation is open until 15 October 2021 and can be accessed by following the link. Scottish Building Regulations: Proposed changes to Energy Standards and associated topics, including Ventilation, Overheating and Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure - Scottish Government - Citizen Space (consult.gov.scot)
Domestic Energy Performance Certificates reform.
The consultation is open until 08 October 2021 and can be accessed by following the link. Domestic Energy Performance Certificates reform - Scottish Government - Citizen Space (consult.gov.scot)
Building standards (fire safety) - a consultation on external wall systems.
The consultation is open until 08 October 2021 and can be accessed by following the link. Building standards (fire safety) - a consultation on external wall systems - Scottish Government - Citizen Space
19.03.2021
Building Warrant Fee Information Guide 2021
Following a biennial review, Building Standards will be introducing a refresh of our Building Warrant Fee Information guide from 1 April 2021.
The guide provides an indication of the expected Estimated Value of Works in £/m2 for some of the more common construction types undertaken in Orkney and should be used in calculating the Building Warrant fee.
The new guidance should be used for all Building Warrant applications made on or after 1 April 2021.
12.01.2021
Update to the Sustainability Label Generator
The current web service where users produce the Sustainability label (statement) to submit along with their Completion Certificate is being rebuilt. This is as a consequence of support for Adobe Flash Player, on which the website relies, no longer being provided from December 2020.
The appearance of the website is being refreshed, however, the functionality and levels of sustainability remain unchanged. Please note that a new domain name and web address will be provided to the service: www.sustainabilitylabel.gov.scot.
Whilst support for Adobe flash player is no longer being provided, sustainability labels can continue to be produced on the current site (www.S7sust.co.uk) provided users have not disabled flash player from running on their computers. Once the new site is live, users accessing the current www.S7sust.co.uk will be automatically redirected to www.sustainabilitylabel.gov.scot.
18.11.2020
Building Standards as a Career
Building Standards lie at the core of building design and construction.
Each of Scotland's local authorities provides a building standards service - and it's an exciting profession to be part of.
Find out about a career in building standards here: https://www.labss.org/news/17-november-2020-career-building-standards
03.09.2020
Building Standards – Verification Inspection services
Further to advice issued on 22 May 2020, regarding remote verification inspection procedures, we are now satisfied that COVID-19 restrictions have eased sufficiently to allow the resumption of site inspection, although initially this applies to unoccupied premises only.
Web accessible guidance for Verification Inspection services is available in PDF format from the 'Related Downloads' section of this page.
30.06.2020
COVID-19 Guidance for Building Owners
Scottish Government have issued a guidance note designed to assist building owners considering COVID-19 adaptations to understand the application of building regulations to such works.
The web accessible guidance note is available in PDF format from the 'Related Downloads' section of this page.
29.05.2020
Remote Verification Inspections - Building Standards Inspection
By following Scottish Government guidance to help protect everyone from the spread of COVID-19 our on-site Building Standards service is presently suspended. However, to support the local construction industry, and to ensure the occupation of new dwellings or small non-domestic buildings is not prevented by the current restrictions, we are encouraging the use of Remote Verification Inspection (RVI) as an alternative to on-site verification inspection.
Web accessible guidance for Remote Verification Inspections is available in PDF format from the 'Related Downloads' section of this page.
09.04.2020
COVID-19 Procedures
With the Building Standards service operational again following the temporary suspension enforced by the Covid-19 restrictions there are several procedural changes relating to service delivery which I should bring to your attention.
Contact – the Building Standards team are working remotely from home and during office hours the preferred method of contact is by work email, i.e:
building.standards@orkney.gov.uk
steven.poke@orkney.gov.uk
juan.delvalle@orkney.gov.uk
mike.gray@orkney.gov.uk
david.atkinson@orkney.gov.uk
tracy.dennison@orkney.gov.uk
philip.williams@orkney.gov.uk
jack.leslie@orkney.gov.uk
Telephone - Our inspection team are also available by telephone:
- Mike Gray (East) 07876230241.
- David Atkinson (West) 07765241527.
For all other telephone enquiries:
- Jack Leslie 07789834356.
One-stop shop – the council reception is closed until further notice and face-to-face consultation is not presently available.
Site inspection – the Building Standards inspection service is currently suspended; however you do have the option of submitting alternative evidence in the form of photographs or video clip. Please contact your area inspector for further information.
Dangerous Buildings – we will continue to react to reports of dangerous buildings where there is a risk of injury to members of the public.
Applications/Forms – can be submitted electronically via the eBuildingStandards portal
We would discourage hard copy paper submissions due to the possible risk of contact infection and delays associated with processing mail.
Payments - for those customers wishing to make payments for Building Standards services you can pay with your card by telephone 01856873535, the Councils online payment facility, or for those making online submissions, via the eDevelopment.Scot portal.
Cheques will continue to be accepted although payment processing may experience delays.
Completion Certificates – we will continue to process Completion Certificate submissions however with no inspection service available any acceptance will be dependent on the provision of reliable alternative evidence. Where acceptance of a completion certificate is not possible then a temporary occupation certificate may be issued, providing the evidence provided is sufficient to address safety.
These measures are essential to protect us all during this difficult time and please be assured that with your continued support the Building Standards team will make every effort to deliver our essential service with as little further disruption as possible until the current restrictions are lifted.
Best regards.
Jack Leslie.
Principal Building Standards Officer.
10.09.2019
Building Standards - Staff update
The Building Standards function has experienced a number of staff changes recently with Tracy Dennison seconded to Assistant Technician (Building Standards) post to assist with the increasing number of applications received via the eBuilding Standards portal and back scanning existing paper records.
Philip Williams was appointed to cover the Building Standards Administration post vacated by Tracy and is responsible for all our office administrative tasks.
And finally, David Atkinson is our new Building Standards Inspector responsible for Building Standards inspections in our West Inspection Area covering West Mainland, West side Kirkwall and St Ola, Shapinsay, Stronsay, Eday, Sanday and Papa Westray.
The following chart identifies the organisational structure for the Building Standards team.
- Building Standards Manager - Jack Leslie.
- Senior Building Standards Officer – Steven Poke.
- Building Standards Officer - Juan DelValle.
- Building Standards Inspector (West) - David Atkinson.
- Building Standards Inspector (East) - Mike Gray.
- Building Standards Assistant Technician - Tracy Dennison.
- Building Standards Administration - Philip Williams.
23.08.2019
Building Standards – Inspections (West)
I’m pleased to advise that David Atkinson has recently been appointed Building Standards Inspector covering our West Inspection Area.
The West Inspection Area covers West Mainland, West side Kirkwall and St Ola, Shapinsay, Stronsay, Eday, Sanday and Papa Westray.
David can be contacted by telephone 01856873535, extension 2720, mobile 07765241527, or email david.atkinson@orkney.gov.uk.
24.07.2019
Fire and Smoke Alarms – Factsheet
The Scottish Government have produced a factsheet advising homeowners what they need to know about changes in legislation relating to fire and smoke alarms coming into force in February 2021.
All homes will be covered by the new standard, as we believe that all homes should be safe for occupants regardless of tenure. It will be the property owner’s responsibility to meet the new standard.
The factsheet can be found in the “Related Downloads” section of this page.
27.05.2019
Scottish Government’s Building Standards Division awards
At the Local Authority Building Standards Scotland (LABSS) AGM held at Peebles Hydro, 17 May 2019, Orkney Islands Council were successful in the Building Standards Division (BSD) National Building Standards Performance Excellence (Small Verifier) category.
The BSD awards for 2018/2019 are made against the following performance indicators:
- Percentage of first reports issued within 20 days.
- Percentage of warrants issued within 10 days from receipt of all satisfactory information.
- Improved customer survey rating.
- Timely Key Performance Outcome Data reporting.
Worth noting the team have consistently achieved close to 100% against the first two criteria.
The Councils Principal Building Standards Officer, Jack Leslie was extremely proud to accept the award from Stephen Garvin head of BSD on the team’s behalf, saying “it’s a great team achievement and just recognition for everyone’s hard work and dedication during the past year”.
24.12.2018
The latest newsletter (December 2018) can be downloaded from the 'Related Downloads' section of this page. It has been provided as a web accessible document.
13.07.2017
Changes to Legislation and Guidance Building (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 (SSI 2017 No.188) (as amended by SSI 2017 No. 214)
Comes into force on 1 July 2017
The amendments include changes to building, fees, procedures and forms regulations:
- The Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004.
- The Building (Fees) (Scotland) Regulations 2004.
- The Building (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2004.
- The Building (Forms) (Scotland) Regulations 2005.
Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004
New description of building or work that does not require a building warrant under regulation 5. New type 23A in schedule 3 to regulation 5, and in regulation 9, covers detached single-storey buildings used for shelter or sleeping in connection with recreation, subject to a number of limitations. This is as a result of SG working with Reforesting Scotland in response to the “Thousand Huts” campaign.
Building (Fees) Scotland) Regulations 2004
Increases to building warrant related fees including demolitions, conversions, work started or completed without a building warrant, and extending the duration of a building warrant. (Part 1 and Part 2 of the schedule in the fees regulations).
Increases to discounts for providing a certificate from an approved certifier of design or approved certifier of construction. Discounts are fixed amounts for estimated values of work not exceeding £100,000 and percentages for estimated values of work exceeding £100,000. (Part 3 and Part 4 of the schedule in the fees regulations).
Changes allowing the warrant fee to be discounted when the applicant advises in writing that they intend to submit a certificate of design after they have made their application but before the warrant is granted.
Building (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2004
Changes to recognise the digitisation of building warrant and completion certificate processes.
Building (Forms) (Scotland) Regulations 2005
Changes to recognise the digitisation of building warrant and completion certificate processes.
Changes to recognise the changes to fees regulations for discounts for certificates of design.
For more information refer to the Procedural Handbook and for details of the amendment regulations see SSI 2017 No. 188 and SSI 2017 No. 2014 by following the link at the end of this information note.
Technical Handbooks 2017 (revised and published 1 July 2017)
Updates to the Technical Handbooks (Domestic and Non-Domestic) have been published - 1 July 2017. The changes include:
- A new building type 23A in schedule 3 to regulation 5 and in regulation 9 in Section 0, General minor updates and corrections.
Technical Handbooks and Key Supporting Guidance and a Summary of the 2017 Changes can be accessed at https://www.webarchive.org.uk/wayback/archive/20170104162110/http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Built-Environment/Building/Building
30.06.2017
Building Warrant Fees
Scottish Ministers advised all local authority verifiers on 29 June 2017 that the planned changes to building warrant fees will apply from 1 July 2017.
Consequently charges for all building warrant related applications received on or after 1 July 2017 will be calculated in accordance with the revised Fees table.
Changes include:
Increases to building warrant related fixed fees and incremental fee steps relating to the estimated value of the work. Includes demolitions, conversions, work started or completed without a building warrant, and extending the duration of a building warrant.
Increases to discounts for providing a certificate from an approved certifier of design or approved certifier of construction. Discounts are fixed amounts for estimated values of work not exceeding £100,000 and percentages for estimated values of work exceeding £100,000.
Changes to allow the warrant fee to be discounted when the applicant advises in writing that they intend to submit a certificate of design after they have made their building warrant application and before the warrant is granted.
The revised Fee Table is available in Section 3.14 of the Procedural Handbook which can be found in the "Related Sites" section of this page. Should you require any further information or clarification regarding building warrant fees please do not hesitate to contact the Building Standards office, by telephoning 01856873535 extension 2729, or by email.
21.2.2017
Fire Safety Design Summary Template
The Fire Safety Design Summary Template on the Building Standards Division website has been updated following comments received from external stakeholders.
The change now requires the summary to be signed by the relevant person/duly authorised agent. Fire Safety Design Summary information including templates, can be downloaded from the ‘Related Sites' section of this page.
03.02.2017
Newsletter 3
The latest newsletter can be downloaded from the 'Related Downloads' section of this page.It has been provided as a web accessible document.
07.12.2016
eBuilding Standards Update
The latest eBuilding Standards Update Newsletter is now available as a PDF document from the 'Related Downloads' section of this page.
Related Downloads
