Heightened demands for sustainable technology and the most energy efficient materials are increasing the popularity of smart buildings across the UK. While encouraging news for the building automation sector, regulatory scrutiny and the phasing out of industry-accredited competency cards are increasing the importance of proving and revalidating competence.

The Grenfell Tower tragedy in 2017, and subsequent Building Safety Act in 2022, prompted a substantial increase in regulatory scrutiny across the building automation and construction sectors. Since then, the industry has seen Grandfather Rights phased out, shifting the emphasis from experience to verified skills and qualifications.

With that in mind, industry leaders have recently discussed the value of competency and both the challenges and opportunities it presents for the sector. Ron Purcell, Product Portfolio Manager – Field Device at Siemens, highlighted the crucial need for the building controls sector to meet every more stringent standards.

He said: “In a sector like building controls, where innovation and compliance are tightly interwoven, ongoing competence validation helps maintain safety, efficiency and quality.

“As standards become more stringent, especially around energy efficiency, cybersecurity and smart building integration, competence revalidation becomes essential to ensure individuals and businesses meet these new benchmarks confidently and consistently.”

His sentiments were echoed by Matt Brown, Managing Director and CFO at E.ON Control Solutions Ltd. He said: “There is a shortage of skilled engineers in the industry, so it is essential that competence is demonstrated and maintained to ensure our clients receive the quality of service that they expect and to minimise costly re-work due to lack of expertise for controls companies.

“In doing this, customers will see the value of building controls and we will be more effective at reducing energy usage.”

Main contractors will proactively specify card requirements for staff working on their contracts and regulators regularly monitor competency checks on-site. Furthermore, insurers are increasingly asking for competency evidence while public sector contracts and in-house building energy management systems (BEMS) teams are required to evidence competency for compliance.

Given those involved in the installation and monitoring of BEMS in smart buildings require a multitude of important skills and expertise and the ability to learn continuously to keep up with this ever-evolving field, driving transparency and quality in the sector is crucial.

As such, the BCIA believes the sector must embrace these challenges in order to raise quality standards and remain compliant. Furthermore, the reputation of building automation and controls can be cemented as an essential technology for not only safety but also for the vital task of decarbonising the UK’s building stock.

Driving competency assessment in the sector

With the construction landscape changing – driven by tightening regulations and a sharpened focus on competence – the BCIA is leading efforts to ensure BEMS professionals obtain the required training and development while validating skills and experience. Through the implementation of strategic training initiatives, robust certification pathways and upcoming revalidation frameworks, the association is committed to supporting the workforce at every stage of their career while also championing the awareness and reputation of the industry and enhancing quality assurance standards.

To further support this initiative, the association has worked with employers on the industry’s competency pathway and made significant investments in BEMS training programmes that support participants and their employers, including the development of a Level 4 Building Controls Engineer apprenticeship scheme – the only one resulting in a relevant BEMS qualification.

Furthermore, the BCIA funded the development of an Experienced Worker Assessment to support those without formal qualifications to obtain certification and apply for their BEMS ECS cards.

Following the industry’s positive steps towards the improvement of skills and expertise provision, regular competency revalidation needs to be the next focus to ensure access is clearly defined and attainable for the entire sector.

Designated the task of developing the competency framework for building controls and automation, the BCIA – the sector’s only representative body – will be working collaboratively with industry leaders to develop a suitable revalidation scheme. Helping business owners augment their credentials and standing in the market, the initiative will fully validate experience, skills and knowledge in a consistent way, that’s robust and timely and that meets all health and safety requirements, as well as meeting the requirements for competency validation set by national standards.

It will also be consulting with the sector to help shape what form revalidation takes, what methods can be utilised to assess whether current competency levels are to the required standard, and how frequently it is required based on the pace of technological change.

Tasked with developing the full-career competency framework for BEMS, the association will undertake a consultation with its members and the rest of the sector in September, welcoming views from across the sector as to how revalidation could be undertaken.

In such a competitive industry, remaining compliant and future-ready is vital. So, all employers and sector professionals should consider actively engaging with the BCIA’s consultation process and taking advantage of all available resources. After all, to reduce the chance of tragic events of the past happening again, the construction industry must be competent and accountable.

Take part in the consultation by visiting: https://www.bcia.co.uk/consult...