Operational Standards Rules
The Explanatory Notes to the Draft Building Safety Bill, were initially published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government on 20 July 2020, and suggested that Operational Standards Rules are ‘Rules for local authorities and building control bodies setting out the performance requirements to be met in the exercise of their building control functions.’
The final relevant provisions for operational standards rules (OSRs) are set out in sections 58Z – 58Z10 of the Building Act 1984. The regulatory authority may revise the OSRs and publish those revisions at any time. The guidance 'operational standards rules' (OSRs) is also available from the UK government via the link.
OSRs apply to building control functions delivered by local authorities and registered building control approvers. The OSRs adopt the definitions within the act, including:
- building control functions in section 58Z (3)
- duty holder in schedule 1
- initial notice in section 47
- local authority in section 126
- regulatory authority in section 58A
- registered building control approver (RBCA) in section 58N
- registered building inspector (RBI) in section 58B
- restricted activities and functions in section 46A
Local authorities and RBCAs must comply with the OSRs. The regulatory authority may take action against those who fail to fulfil the requirements of the OSRs. The guidance 'operational standards rules' (OSRs) sets the detail of these, within four categories which are as follows:
- Systems and controls
- Persons involved in the delivery of building control functions
- Building control functions
- Enforcement and intervention
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