Crown Verification
Introduction
The SBS intends to commence section 53 of the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 in 2008. Commencement of this section means that the Act will bind the Crown and remove the current exemption from building regulations.
Once the exemption is removed Crown buildings in Scotland will be subject to the same standards and procedures for warrants and completion certificates as all other buildings. At present, Crown buildings generally ensure compliance as a matter of policy and building consultants are used to check suitability of design proposals against the regulations.
Removal of the exemption should not cause significant additional costs. However, it will align this sector of buildings with existing procedures for all other buildings and require a building warrant to be obtained before work commences and a completion certificate accepted before occupation and use.
The Crown verification service will ensure that a high standard of compliance is achieved and the procedures will mirror the existing arrangements used by local authority verifiers for all other buildings.
