Quality Procedures and Explanatory Notes. for the Air Tightness Testing of Dwellings by. Approved Individuals

Transcription

1 Building and Approved Inspectors (Amendments) Regulations 2006 and 2010 Competent persons Scheme Building (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2006 Competent Persons Scheme Quality Procedures and Explanatory Notes for the Air Tightness Testing of Dwellings by Approved Individuals A Third Party Approved Scheme administrated by The British Institute of Non- Destructive Testing (BINDT), with Technical Expertise provided by The Air Tightness Testing and Measurement Association (ATTMA) which reports to the Council of The Institute. This document has been produced by The Director of Certification, The Air Tightness Testing and Measurement Certification Scheme, c/o BINDT, Newton Building, St. George s Avenue, Northampton, NN2 6JB. 1

2 Quality Statement I, do hereby agree to work in accordance with the requirements outlined in this document and at all times to carry out the required tests to the best of my ability and with the professionalism that clients are entitled to expect from my registration with The British Institute of Non- Destructive Testing. Signed Date 2

3 CONTENTS Page 2 Quality Statement Page 3-7 Outline of the scheme Page 8 Appendix 1 Application Form Page 9 Appendix 2 Fee Structure Page 10 Appendix 3 List of files that are to be maintained Page 11 Example of a Test Certificate Page 12 Example of a Test Report Page 13 Template for Log of Tests carried out Page 14 Template for CPD records Page 15 Template for Complaint File Page 16 Template for Audit Record Sheet Page 17 Template for Review Record Sheet Introduction This document has been produced by The British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT) and is intended to provide a basic framework of requirements that individuals must satisfy if they are to carry out Air Tightness Testing of Dwellings in accordance with L1A building regulations 2006 and 2010 editions. Scope These Procedures are applicable only to the Air Tightness Testing of Dwellings carried out by registered individuals. Definitions Most of the terms used in this document will be self evident, but the following three are worthy of particular note at this stage: 1) Registered Trainee A Registered Trainee is an individual who has satisfactorily completed a BINDT Approved training course. A Registered Trainee can only carry out Air Permeability tests on new dwellings by progressing to become a Registered Tester. See below. 2) Registered Tester A Registered Tester is one who holds a current, valid Certificate of Approval. This will be issued to Registered Trainees subject to the following requirements; (a) The candidate has completed a structured training programme (see Personnel Training page 4 ). (b) The candidate is working in accordance with BINDT Approved Quality Procedures. (c) The candidate has access to the necessary equipment, with UKAS calibration. (d) The candidate has adequate Professional Indemnity Insurance. 3) Certificate of Approval A Certificate of Approval will be one of two types: (a) Intermediate (valid for 12 months from the date when the candidate became a registered tester) 3

4 (b) Unrestricted (Issued after the Intermediate Certificate has expired. Each certificate is valid for 12 months) Accreditation Body BINDT is the Accreditation Body and it will administer and manage the scheme. Where technical expertise is required, BINDT will refer to the Air Tightness Testing and Measurement Association Committee (ATTMA), an independent panel of experts in the field. Personnel Training Each individual tester must have attended a validated training course at a BINDT Accredited Training Establishment and must have passed both theory andpractical assessments and follow up exercises (see below). The appropriate training school will advise BINDT of successful completion of the training programme, and BINDT will register the candidate s name on the Individuals Registered To Test Dwellings list. In order to progress toward becoming a BINDT approved tester, the trainee must: Purchase suitable equipment which is UKAS calibrated. Implement a suitable quality system. Obtain professional indemnity insurance. See below for further details. After the training course and as soon as the trainee has access to suitable equipment, he/she is to perform, free of charge, three tests on dwellings. These could include the trainee s residence, homes of friends/relatives, etc. For all paid work equipment must be UKAS calibrated, however as a concession, UKAS calibration is not necessarily required for the three unpaid tests but the equipment must be in a fully functional condition. These tests should be carried out as soon as possible (ideally within 6 weeks). For each test, a complete test report must be produced, including all calculations. Plans must be obtained or detailed dimensional sketches must be produced. When the documentation has been completed for all these dwellings, the trainee is to send the packages direct to their training school and then contact their tutor to arrange an appointment at the training school where the test reports and calculations will be reviewed/discussed. Any problem areas will routinely be resolved during the meeting. In ideal circumstances this review will be conducted with a return visit to the training school. In exceptional circumstances the training establishment may permit this review to take place without a return visit but the trainer reserves the right to demand a return visit if this is deemed to be necessary. The trainer has the right to request any follow up work that may be required if problem areas cannot be resolved on the day. If areas of weakness are found then additional training (and possibly another full assessment) may be required. Once this process has been completed the trainer will advise BINDT accordingly and, provided that the trainee has implemented a suitable quality system and obtained Professional Indemnity Insurance, he/she may apply to become a BINDT approved tester. The candidates name will be listed as a BINDT registered tester for a 12 month period, and he/she can then carry out testing of dwellings and buildings. 4

5 Between 11 and 12 months after the initial registration date the candidate is required to submit their log of completed tests to BINDT. Not less than three of these will be selected for review and the tester will be asked to submit their complete packages of work, including plans or dimensioned sketches, for review. The tester must also carry out a practical test on a test house to demonstrate continued competency. The test house could be a test dwelling at a training establishment or the candidate might ask an examiner from a training establishment to witness an actual test that he/she is conducting. The candidate should also provide up to date Calibration Certificates and Professional Indemnity Insurance. 1 st and 2 nd Year Testers are required to pay 100 plus VAT. 3 rd Years and Ongoing Testers are required to pay 200 plus VAT for their Registration with BINDT. When the applicant has satisfactorily completed this 12 month renewal then their training is considered to be complete. The applicant s name will remain on the Individuals Registered To Test Dwellings list forthwith, and an Unrestricted Certificate of Approval will be issued, valid for 12 months. Approval of Personnel Each individual tester, at the time of performing a test, must hold a current, valid Air Permeability Certificate which is to be produced on request. The serial number of the Certificate is to be recorded on each Test Report. Any test carried out by an individual whose Air Permeability Certificate is out of date or has been withdrawn by BINDT for any reason whatsoever, or has expired, is invalid and therefore worthless. An applicant whose name is on the Individuals Registered To Test Dwellings list must provide BINDT with evidence that he/she owns the full range of equipment detailed below, that he/she has adequate Professional Indemnity Insurance cover and that he/she will carry out tests in accordance with these Quality Procedures. When all of this information has been received BINDT will issue an Intermediate Certificate of Approval (valid for 12 months). This Certificate is to be retained on file by the Tester and must be produced on demand. Up to 1 month prior to the expiry date of all Certificates of Approval, candidates must apply to BINDT for a new Certificate of Approval and with their application must provide BINDT with a log of all tests conducted during the preceding 12 months. This material will be reviewed by BINDT. Any of the submitted material may be selected and fully audited. Cost of Training and Examination, Registration and Certification A summary of initial and ongoing fees is shown as Appendix 2. Personal CPD Records CPD, (or Continuing Professional Development), is very important and Air Tightness Testing personnel need to build up their training and work experiences to improve and develop their competence. Each individual tester must maintain a record which lists any training that he/she has had any examinations, any top-up training and the dates that test reports were submitted for peer review. See page 14. 5

6 Equipment A Tester must have access to a Blower Door and Accessories, Barometer, Cup Anemometer, Thermometer and Micro-manometer, as a minimum. Calibration All equipment except the anemometer - must be UKAS calibrated. Calibration records and copies of Calibration Certificates are to be retained. Calibration may be easiest if the equipment is sent back to the original supplier. If the micro manometer and fan are calibrated as a set then they must only be used in this set. It is accepted that the anemometer doesn t need to be UKAS calibrated as it does not affect the test results, it only gives an indication of whether or not a test may be conducted. Professional Indemnity (PI) Insurance Every tester must have PI insurance cover in place with a minimum insured liability of 1 million. Any insurer may be used but BINDT has set up a Group Scheme with a reputable local broker who understands air tightness testing. Most air tightness testers are using this scheme and have found it to be very competitive. Full details are available from BINDT. Test Certificate A uniquely numbered BINDT test certificate must be issued whenever a test is carried out for the purpose of demonstrating compliance with the building regulations. These are available for a nominal fee from BINDT. An example is shown on page 11. They must not be copied by the tester as they are carefully controlled and are traceable. Test Reports A test report will always be used to accompany the test certificate. More details are given on page 12. Each report should list all of the information shown, as a minimum. Use of Approved Logos An Approved Tester logo is available from BINDT. Testers are encouraged to use this logo. These contain candidates Individual Registered BINDT Number and can be displayed on documentation, websites, vehicles, etc. Log of Tests A log of all tests carried out is to be maintained. This will include details of the location of the site, type of dwelling, client, test results and the serial numbers of all equipment used. The serial number of the Tester s Air Permeability Certificate must also be recorded on each Test Report in order for it to be valid. See page 13. 6

7 Client Complaints All client complaints are to be recorded in a Complaints Register (see page 15), which is to be made available to BINDT on request. Complaints are to be dealt with in a professional manner and, if at all possible, worked through to a conclusion which is acceptable to both the client and the tester. If this is not possible the matter must be referred to The Scheme Manager at BINDT for resolution. If, at the discussion stage, it is felt that independent advice will help to achieve a satisfactory conclusion then either or both parties are invited to contact The Scheme Manager sooner rather than later. Audit Testers are individually approved by BINDT and each tester will have signed his/her copy of these Quality Procedures, demonstrating that he/she has accepted responsibility and will conduct his/her business in the defined manner. Annual audits of the client files by an independent individual is the ultimate check, but if a tester carries out his/her work in a methodical way this may be considered excessive and unnecessary. The tester may, as an alternative, carry out a self check of his/her work and record keeping by retrieving and scrutinising a minimum of one completed file during each 3 monthly period. This file should be checked very carefully and must be highlighted in the log of tests carried out as having been double-checked. Any mistakes or omissions are to be recorded in an Audit Findings file, using the form on page 16, along with a note of actions taken to ensure that the problem does not occur again. Do not just highlight mistakes; if everything is in order then record that too! Review An annual review is to be carried out. The purpose of this is to consider any audit findings, the effectiveness of any corrective actions taken, any client complaints and, in broad terms, to consider how the business is performing. The review should not just focus on problems, it should also highlight successes achieved throughout the previous 12 months. Review findings are to be recorded in an Annual Review file. See page 17. 7

8 Appendix 1 Application Form Name Address Telephone I wish to apply to BINDT to become a Registered Air Tightness Tester of Dwellings. YES NO I have attended a BINDT Accredited Training Course I will soon attend a BINDT Accredited Training Course I will use the BINDT Quality Procedures in ATTMA- Tester-Dwellings- Q.P. I will establish my own Quality Procedures I have purchased the required equipment as detailed in: ATTMA- Tester-Dwellings- Q.P. I will purchase adequate Professional Indemnity Insurance Cover I understand that I will need to provide copies of test reports, for review and feedback, as part of my longer term training and approval schedule YES YES NO NO Signed Date Please send to: The Scheme Manager, BINDT, Room 132, The Newton Building, St Georges Avenue, Northampton, NN2 6JB. 8

9 Appendix 2 Fee Structure Initial and Ongoing Costs Candidates will expect to pay for their initial training course and for the purchase of equipment. Bear in mind that training schools and equipment manufacturers operate in a competitive market place so prices will vary. After the initial training course it is essential that testers build up their experience and are mentored during this process, by review of reports and, at 12 months, by carrying out a supervised test. Renewals at 24 months, and yearly thereafter will again involve the review of test reports and the carrying out of random on-site audits. These activities all involve time and/or travel, so fees must be paid by the candidate. The Government offices (DCLOG) require that Certificates are issued and subsequently renewed to reflect the status of the Tester. Certificates must be properly controlled which again must be paid for by a fee. BINDT will support candidates by maintaining a register of Certificate holders which will be available on the BINDT web site, in the public domain. BINDT will also help prospective testers by providing model Quality Procedures, which contain the paperwork required by the tester to run his/her business. These two items are financed from the registration and renewal fees. For 2007, fees are as follows: Start up costs Registration as a Registered Tester 100 plus VAT, paid to BINDT. 12 months after registration Candidate to provide a log of all work carried out during the previous 12 months. A selection of the tests will be reviewed and a practical examination to take place at a training establishment. If the candidate requests that this practical test is to be carried out elsewhere, they must advise of the location and obtain a cost quotation. The candidate must also provide up to date Calibration Certificates, Professional Indemnity Insurance. 100 plus VAT paid to BINDT. Once BINDT have also received candidates Pass Results from one of the training schools, a Certificate of Approval will be issued. Every 12 months afterwards Candidate to provide a log of all work carried out during the previous 12 months. A test report will be chosen and reviewed by The Scheme Manager at BINDT, 200 plus VAT paid to BINDT, up to date Calibration Certificates and Professional Indemnity Insurance. Once these have been received and reviewed, a Certificate of Approval will be issued. Appendix 3 List of files that are to be maintained. These files may be checked as part of the Approval Renewal process. Keep the files simple and understandable, for instance files 4,5,6,7 and 8 need be nothing more than a standard sheet with hand-written entries added on to the bottom each time. 9

10 1. Certificate of Approval of the tester (keep your old certificates behind the current one) 2. Master sheet of the Standardised Test Report 3. Equipment Calibration Certificates (keep old ones behind the current ones) 4. Log of Tests carried out 5. Personal CPD Record 6. Complaints 7. Audit Findings 8. Review 10

11 An Example of a Test Certificate. Air Permeability Test Report Number... Tested by... Approved Tester Registration Number... This is to certify that the following dwelling and test results were carried out fully in compliance with Approved Document L1A of the 2006 Building Regulations. Dwelling plot/address House/plot number and road name... Town... County... Country... Post code... Unit type... Test date... Test time Design air permeability......m 3 /(h.m 2 ) r 2 =.....(>0.98) Measured air permeability...m 3 /(h.m 2 ) n =..(1 n 0.5) Envelope area of dwelling...m 2 Accredited tester Name. Signature Organisation Telephone number Carried out for... (Developer/owner/other) Town... County... Country... 11

12 Test Report. This document is to be produced by the tester and gives more detail of the actual building and the test carried out. It is supposed to contain words that describe the test situation which produced the numbers that are recorded on the test certificate. The report shall contain at least the following information: (a) (b) (c) All details necessary to identify the building/ envelope tested; purpose of test (method A or B); post address and estimated date of construction of the building; A reference to this standard and any deviation from it; Test object: o Description of which parts of the building were subject to the test; apartment number; o Optionally net floor area and internal volume of space subject to the test ; o Envelope area ; o Documentation of calculations so that the stated results can be verified ; o The general status of openings on the building envelope, latched, sealed, open, etc.; o Detailed description of temporarily sealed openings, if any ; o The type of heat, ventilating, and air conditioning system ; ( d ) Apparatus and procedure o Equipment and technique employed ( e ) Test data o Zero flow pressure differences ΔP0,1+, ΔP0,1-, ΔP0,2+, ΔP0,2-, ΔP0,1 and ΔP0,2 for pressurisation and depressurisation test : o Inside and outside temperatures ; o Wind speed, barometric pressure if it is part of the calculation ; o Table of induced pressure differences and corresponding air flow rates o Air leakage graph, with value of correlation coefficient r 2 ; o The air flow coefficient C env, the air flow exponent, n, and the air leakage coefficient C L, for both pressurisation and depressurisation testes determined by the method indicated. ( f ) Date of test. This report must bear a reference number which links it to the issued Test Certificate. It is suggested that you denote this report with the same number as on the Test Certificate. 12

13 Date Client's Name & Site Address Type of Dwelling Tester's Name and Certificate Serial No. Equipment Serial No.s Test Result Log of Tests Carried Out. 13

14 Date CPD Record. Type of CPD Activity (Training, Examination or Submission of Reports for Review) Comments 14

15 Complaint File. Date Client Details of Complaint Actions Taken Outcome 15

16 Audit Record Sheet. Date Details of Job that was Audited Audit Findings Actions Taken and Comments Date Details of Job that was Audited Audit Findings Actions Taken and Comments 16

17 Review Record Sheet. Date of Review Summary of Audit Findings in the previous 12 months Summary of Client Complaints in the previous 12 months General Business Performance Comments, and Plan for the following 12 months 17