Shift 1 - Clearly defined authorities and accountabilities for the oversight of
building construction
Oversight is the review of building design and construction to ensure Building
Code compliance, by an independent third party with whom building project
participants (owners, designers, builders and trades) have no contractual
relationship.
System participants have frequently observed that roles, responsibilities and
accountabilities for oversight in British Columbia are poorly defined and
understood. This shift clarifies what oversight is, who has authority and is
accountable for oversight, and how accountabilities for oversight can be
fulfilled.
The shift proposes local government oversight of high-risk areas of building
design and construction. For local governments that choose not to provide
oversight, an alternative third party, such as the BC Safety Authority or a
private-sector agency, would act as a backup. Design professionals (architects
and engineers) could assist in some aspects of oversight.
This shift will also:
- enable professional associations’ authority to designate specialists; and
- create a mechanism for requiring the use of specialists for particular aspects
of building design and construction.
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