Architecture, engineering and testing cover different businesses, each with its own rules. Because the building-design regimes are devolved, some of those rules differ across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This path takes you through it in order. First put the duties every professional practice shares in place. Then follow the rules for your activity. Finish by checking you have covered everything.
Step 1 — Put the shared duties in place
Every practice and laboratory must protect personal data, avoid discrimination, insure its employees, manage health and safety and carry professional indemnity cover before it takes on staff, clients or projects.
Step 2 — Follow the rules for your activity
Now work through the guide for what your business does. If more than one applies — many practices both design and inspect — follow each relevant guide.
If you design buildings or infrastructure
Register with the ARB if you call yourself an architect. Design to the Building Regulations. Meet your CDM 2015 designer duties. Confirm your competence for higher-risk buildings.
If you test, calibrate, inspect or analyse
Get UKAS accreditation where your results need it, and use competent, accredited analysts for asbestos sampling and clearance work.
Step 3 — Confirm you are compliant
Work through the architecture, engineering and testing compliance checklist to confirm every obligation that applies to your business is in place.