AQW 12058/17-22

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 15/12/2020
Answered On Date: 22/12/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Finance to detail the stakeholders involved as part of the co-production and co-design of amendments to Building Regulations.

Answer:

The local Building Regulations Advisory Committee (NIBRAC) is a statutory body set up under Article 4 of the Building Regulations (NI) Order 1979 to advise the Department on the amendment of building regulations and other associated matters.

The Department works with NIBRAC to develop proposals for stakeholder engagement and consultation to inform proposals for amending regulations and associated technical guidance. The Department maintains a list of 396 stakeholders who are notified for consultation purposes.

NIBRAC technical sub-committees are also established, as required, and should additional expertise be necessary, external experts are co-opted as required. NIBRAC members chair technical sub-committees, which are expected to report regularly to the full committee so that progress can be monitored and considered.

Currently three technical sub-committees have been established and have commenced work in the areas of (i) Fire safety; (ii) Conservation of fuel and power; and (iii) Access to and use of Buildings (to introduce requirements for Changing Places Toilets).

NIBRAC sub-committees members have been drawn from academia; the Fire and Rescue Service; District Councils; local charities who work with people with disabilities; the Construction Industry; the Northern Ireland Housing Executive; and Housing Associations.

The Department liaises with the local construction industry on Building Regulations issues through the Construction Industry Forum (CIFNI) which established Building Regulations Task Groups in 2019/20 specifically for this purpose. The Department also engages with District Councils’ Building Control, who are responsible for enforcement of the Building Regulations within their council boundaries, through regular Building Control liaison meetings.