Two new registration categories for building
inspectors were officially launched on December 1, under the South African
Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP).
According to registrar Butcher Matutle, the protection of the public from substandard
building practices, as well as boosting the professionalism of building
inspectors within the built environment, “are key outcomes for this
registration category”.
He added that the SACPCMP was “very encouraged” by
the positive response it had received from representatives comprising the built
environment, media and building inspectors.
The new registration categories – for Professional
Building Inspector (PrBInsp) and Certified Building Inspector (CBInsp) – were
developed by a task team that included representatives from government,
academia and the public sector.
Prior to the establishment of this task team,
months of industry-related research pertaining to building inspectors’ scope of
work, responsibilities, risks and more was undertaken by the National Home
Builders Registration Council (NHBRC).
Under the recommendation of the Council for the
Built Environment (CBE), the SACPCMP was put forth as the most preferable
council or authority to manage the registration of building inspectors within
the country.
“The council presented a nationwide roadshow, [starting]
in September, and the response was incredible,” Matutle enthused.
He added that practitioners from across South
Africa had attended sessions that outlined the requirements and benefits of the
registration process, and attendees were given the opportunity to ask questions
regarding the new categories.
A scope of work for each category was also gazetted
and the SACPCMP “methodically ensured” that all relevant queries from the
gazetted call-for-comment, as well as the roadshow, were addressed.
Matutle added that registration aimed to provide a
foundation for the professionalisation of building inspectors within the
country and help to further the legitimisation of this occupational practice.
The move to offer building inspectors the chance to
enhance their reputation for credibility, efficiency and authority within the
overall construction management family of professions, is seen as one of the
many benefits of the new registration category, according to Matutle.
Online registration officially opened to the public from 05:00 on December 1. http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/two-new-registration-categories-for-building-inspectors-launching-next-month-2019-11-28
