Building Standards

  • Building Resilience to Flooding

    3rd March 2020 by

    A blog by Thomas Lennon Following storms Ciara, Dennis and Jorge no one can be in any doubt that the flooding of our towns, cities and properties is on the increase. Flooding cannot be prevented, it is estimated that in Scotland 284,00 homes and properties are at risk of flooding. Around 229,000 of these properties...

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  • House Builders Survey

    18th February 2020 by

    A blog by Eilidh MacPherson Building Standards Division (BSD) is currently undertaking a research project around compliance of Section 6 Energy, of the Technical Handbook, focusing on the building fabric performance. In 2019, The First Minister declared a global climate emergency and there are increased demands to rapidly reduce carbon emissions across all sectors of...

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  • Section 63 of The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009

    12th February 2020 by

    A blog by Gillian McCallum Climate Change is one of the most critical issues the world is facing and, in response to the global climate emergency, Scotland has set the most ambitious statutory climate change targets in the world; committing to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. Later this year Glasgow will host the UN...

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  • Developing the Building Standards Workforce Strategy

    4th February 2020 by

    A Partnership Approach by Gordon Gilchrist You might know that Building Standards Division (BSD) is currently developing a workforce strategy for the building standards verification service. We intend for the strategy to deliver positive outcomes and changes locally and nationally that will help local authorities continue to build successful teams and ensure the service is...

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  • Graduate Placement at Building Standards Division

    18th December 2019 by

    A blog by Eilidh MacPherson For the last year I have been working for Building Standards Division (BSD) in a graduate placement role.  My background isn’t actually in building standards or any related field.  Prior to joining Scottish Government I was at Abertay University for five years where I studied Forensic Science and then moved...

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  • Changing Places Toilets

    21st November 2019 by

    Post by Thomson Dyer of Building Standards Division A toilet is not just a toilet. It’s a life-saver, dignity-protector and opportunity-maker. Whoever you are, wherever you are, access to sanitation is a basic human right. However for many people in Scotland with complex care needs, access to this most basic human right is not as...

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  • Working with our European partners

    19th November 2019 by

    A post from Ken Craig in the Procedures and Verification Team I attended the two day Consortium of European Building Control (CEBC) conference in Brussels on 14 and 15 October 2019. This was a landmark event as it was the Consortium’s 60th business meeting.  CEBC consists of member organisations both public and private sectors representing...

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  • Fire Safety Standards – latest changes

    1st November 2019 by

    As a result of the tragic Grenfell Tower fire on 14 June 2017 reviews of fire safety measures affecting multi storey buildings was undertaken. The Building Standards Division have played a significant part in this process implementing new measures designed to increase safety for building occupants and assist the fire and rescue services when implementing...

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  • Guidance Changes in the Building Standards Procedural Handbook

    1st October 2019 by

    The updated Building Standards Procedural Handbook is published on the Scottish Government website. Version 1.6 of the 3rd edition is the version to be used from 1 October 2019. This post covers the main guidance changes. Roles and responsibilities We have strengthened guidance on roles and responsibilities of people involved in a building project. The...

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  • Refreshing the Building Standards Procedural Handbook

    22nd August 2019 by

    Guidance on the building standards system for all Most regular users of the building standards system will be familiar with the technical standards and guidance set out in the Technical Handbooks (or “building regs” as most refer to them). The Procedural Handbook provides guidance on all aspects of the building standards system from the building...

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