Abrahams, G (2017) Revealing and exploring the insider/outsider role of the building control officer in England. Architectural Engineering and Design Management, 13(4), pp. 278-290. ISSN 1745-2007
Abstract
Relatively few studies to date have focused on the role of the building control officer in England and their relationship with the design team. The research reported in this paper addresses this gap. Key studies in the field were reviewed to identify the most salient points related to the role and relationships between the building control officer and members of the design team. Interviews were then held with 10 experienced professional actors to explore these points. The interviews highlighted three key findings. (i) The building control assessor role currently straddles an internal/external position: as an internal member of the design team as well as an external policing, checker or referee role. (ii) This position and the perceived success of this role is partly the result of different relationships between the building control officer and key actors in the design team. (iii) Part of the building control officer's role is not constrained to a specific individual, but is also acquired as a 'voice in the designer's head'.Relatively few studies to date have focused on the role of the building control officer in England and their relationship with the design team. The research reported in this paper addresses this gap. Key studies in the field were reviewed to identify the most salient points related to the role and relationships between the building control officer and members of the design team. Interviews were then held with 10 experienced professional actors to explore these points. The interviews highlighted three key findings. (i) The building control assessor role currently straddles an internal/external position: as an internal member of the design team as well as an external policing, checker or referee role. (ii) This position and the perceived success of this role is partly the result of different relationships between the building control officer and key actors in the design team. (iii) Part of the building control officer's role is not constrained to a specific individual, but is also acquired as a 'voice in the designer's head'.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | relationships; building control officer; role; building regulations; design team; design; reviews; buildings; building control; building automation; building management systems |
| Index terms: | building control, design team, building control officer, designer, building regulation, England, interview, building management system, building automation |
| Subjects: | regulatory law, automation and robotics, Geography, health safety and environment, professional practice, practitioner, data collection methods, profession, mechanical systems |
| Topics: | Roles and Professions, Health and Safety, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Engineering Principles, Legal Issues, Design Practice, Digital Applications |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here