'Super clerk of works' to monitor golden thread

摘要

A working group led by the CIOB has recommended creation of a potentially critical new role: the independent construction assessor (ICA), effectively an enhanced clerk of works. The suggestion was made to the Competence Steering Group (CSG) which published its report, Setting the Bar, on 5 October as an update to its interim report, RaisingtheBar, from August 2019. Eleven working groups fed into the report and Working Group 9, led by the CIOB, was tasked with examining and defining the competencies for site supervisors on higher-risk residential buildings above 18m. CIOB board trustee Pete Dawber, who chaired the group, said the ICA role would facilitate adoption of the 'golden thread' of information, which Dame Judith Hackitt recommended should run through projects following her independent review of Building Regulations and fire safety. The working group agreed that third-party verification was needed to drive this industry change, Dawber said. "The ICA would identify the information required and check that project elements have been satisfactorily installed and the relevant information captured, using digital technology," he explained. "For example, photographic or video evidence would be captured after one work element, then further evidence recorded after a follow-on trade has gone through to confirm the work is still intact and not damaged. This way, the ICA would maintain the integrity of the golden thread.