Applicants can apply for two certifications, depending on their level of experience:
All buildings including HRBs (CIOB Principal Contractor Certified/Provisional for all including Higher Risk Buildings):
- Chartered Membership of the CIOB or CIOB approved equivalent
- Typically, 3+ years’ experience in managing building works for higher-risk buildings as defined under the Building Safety Act 2022 and relevant secondary legislation.
All buildings excluding HRBs (CIOB Principal Contractor Certified/Provisional for all non-Higher Risk Buildings):
- Chartered Membership of the CIOB or TechCIOB or CIOB approved equivalent
- Typically, 3+ years’ relevant experience in managing building works
In this section, to demonstrate competence you need to give specific work-based example(s) of:
- When you have applied legislation and standards relevant to the role of principal contractor. This could cover any of the following: building work, management, operation, use and demolition of buildings
- Implementing compliance in regard to building and whole life safety.
In this section to demonstrate competence you need to give specific work-based example(s) of:
- Applying health, safety and wellbeing for the end-users in collaboration with other duty holders
- Managing and identifying hazards
- Managing and identifying risks including mitigation and the management of residual risk
- Managing building safety during the construction phase of a building project which delivered a compliant and safe building
Additionally, for Certified and Provisional HRB applicants only, to demonstrate competence you are
required to give workplace example(s) of:
- Formal approach to the management of work for HRBs and demonstrate how safety risks can be reduced through effective measures and industry best practice demonstrate that building work carried out in occupied buildings does not undermine the existing safety arrangements as set out in the safety case
- Where you have managed the development of the construction control plan during the construction phase so that building safety risks arising from construction activities, including fire, structural, other regulatory prescribed hazards and public safety, are fully recorded and addressed as part of the obligatory Gateway regime
- Building work carried out in occupied buildings that supports the existing safety arrangements as set out in the safety case
In this section to demonstrate competence you need to give specific work-based example(s) of:
- Selecting a procurement process that maintains openness and transparency in decision making, including how you assessed proportionately the competence of contractors and suppliers
- How you performed due diligence on the prequalification and selection of contractors, suppliers and service providers, including establishing authenticity and integrity of information and record keeping
- How you planned and organised safe building projects for their lifecycle and assess their resource requirements to meet statutory requirements
- How you procured quality assured materials, products and building systems suitable for their intended purpose
- How you assessed the safety implications during the construction phase planning process and adopted a risk-based approach to managing project budgets and financial controls
- How you planned and coordinated building work to allow time to deliver a safe and compliant building, including surroundings, for the occupants
In this section to demonstrate competence you need to give specific work-based example(s) of:
- Awareness of roles, limitations, legal and moral duties, and how building phases and systems impact safety and public protection
- Monitoring competence and on- and off-site activities, with accurate, up-to-date records
- Supervising and managing build quality using best-practice standards
- Ongoing oversight of procurement and coordination of contractors, suppliers, and service providers
- Oversight of inspection and testing of safety-critical materials, components, and systems
- Managing timeframes and budgets without compromising safety or regulatory compliance
- Embedding a quality management system that supports lifelong occupant safety
- Monitoring and testing materials, components, and systems during construction
- Implementing supplier pre-qualification and quality assurance processes
- Coordinating and managing safety and quality inspections
- Communicating quality requirements clearly to project teams, contractors, and system providers
In this section to demonstrate competence you need to give specific work-based example(s) of:
- Applying effective leadership to management and achieving defined objectives
- Delegating and empowering teams to deliver results
- Addressing poor practice and implementing measures to prevent recurrence
- Managing change control with accurate record development and maintenance
- Using experience-based learning to improve building performance and life safety
- Applying nationally recognised standards and trusted industry sources in decisions
- Not applicable (Category A applicants only)
- Promoting a respectful and inclusive work environment
- Communicating shared objectives across project teams and stakeholders
- Assessing the skills, knowledge, and experience of appointed personnel
- Empowering the workforce to make informed workplace decisions
Additionally, for Certified and Provisional HRB applicants only, to demonstrate competence you are
required to give workplace example(s) of:
- How you evaluated and updated the construction control plan during the construction phase, providing full and accurate records of any changes (including justifications) to the building and building systems
- How you developed and maintained competences that underpin the safety of HRBs and carry out the additional duties for managing the construction phase
In this section to demonstrate competence you need to give specific work-based example(s) of:
- Where you liaised with stakeholders and regulatory bodies who impact the construction planning, construction and handover phases on matters affecting the lifetime quality and safety of the building
- How you engendered a trusting and open relationship with the Client and the team to meet their needs
- How you managed the flow of information
- How you developed a digital strategy for the build management, including all appropriate data and information important to the lifetime compliance and safety of the building
- How you ensured the accuracy of the records of the as-built building
Additionally, for Certified and Provisional HRB applicants only, to demonstrate competence you are required to give workplace example(s) of:
- Liaising with regulators and relevant duty holders
- Working with the Principal Designer to interpret design information and maintain compliant digital records
- Collaborating to develop the building safety case
- Using mandatory safety occurrence reporting systems for structural, fire, and life-safety risks
- Contributing to the golden thread of information
- Reviewing construction control plans, signing off compliance documentation, and contributing to the Fire and Emergency File
- Managing and transferring construction information to the Client or Accountable Person
All members of the scheme are required to be re-certified and peer-reviewed after five years. The re-certification process may allow progression to or from one category to another.
Members of the scheme who are certified for non-HRBs can apply for an upgrade to HRB certified through the re-certification process, however, they must have held membership at their current grade for at least 12 months before applying for an upgrade.
