Building Control Tightens Expectations – and How RISA Is Helping to Secure Sign-Off
Over the past few month, RISA has seen a significant increase in requests from installers, Builders, Architects and Homeowners asking us to confirm compliance where building control bodies are seeking additional assurance before issuing completion certificates.
While the high-profile changes brought in by the Building Safety Act 2022 mainly target higher-risk buildings, the ripple effect is now being felt across everyday domestic and commercial projects. Local Authority Building Control (LABC) teams and Approved Inspectors/Registered Building Control Approvers are understandably more cautious and are asking for clearer evidence that window and door installations meet the relevant standards.
For many projects, that now means additional information or specialist findings are needed to satisfy building control – particularly around PAS 24 and other technical standards related to security, weather performance and safe operation.
Why are building control teams asking for more?
In the current regulatory climate, building control officers are under pressure to show that their decisions are:
- Evidence-based,
- Defensible, and
- Backed by clear documentation, not just visual inspection or experience.
As a result, we are seeing more projects where building control will not simply accept a generic statement of compliance. Instead, they are looking for:
- A documented design rationale – how the specification was chosen and how it meets the functional requirements of the Building Regulations.
- Product certification and test data – for example, PAS 24 security performance, weather and operation to the relevant BS/EN standards, or compliance with Approved Document Q, L and K as applicable.
- Photographs, on-site records and independent inspection findings – essentially, a softer version of the “golden thread” of information now expected on higher-risk schemes.
However, in many of the cases we see, formal test data or third-party accreditation for the specific products installed is missing or incomplete. In these situations RISA is often asked to assess whether the installation and its components are, in our professional opinion, equivalent to the performance required by the relevant standard – with PAS 24 being a common example.
This is where independent, technically robust inspection evidence has become much more valuable.
Where RISA fits in
RISA’s role is to provide impartial, expert inspections and reporting on the installation of windows and doors in line with relevant standards and good practice.
We are increasingly being asked to:
- Investigate where building control has withheld sign-off pending further evidence.
- Review installations against specific standards such as PAS 24 and other performance requirements.
- Provide an independent written opinion that building control can rely on when forming their own compliance decision.
Our inspectors work to industry-recognised standards and draw on deep fenestration experience, which means our reports can bridge the gap between:
- The technical language of the standards, and
- The practical realities on site.
Not a certification body – but a trusted expert opinion
It is important to be clear about RISA’s role:
RISA is not a certification body and we cannot issue compliance certificates.
We do not replace product certification or scheme membership, and we do not “sign off” work on behalf of building control.
What we do provide is a thorough, independent assessment of whether an installation has been carried out in a way that meets the relevant standards and regulatory requirements, based on the evidence available on site and in the design information.
Our expert opinion on the compliance of window and door installations is well respected by LABC and other building control bodies, and is increasingly being used as a key piece of evidence to support their own decisions. In many cases, a RISA report has proved invaluable in unlocking final building control sign-off where there were previously concerns or gaps in documentation.
Typical scenarios we’re seeing
Recent instructions to RISA have included situations where:
- Building control is not satisfied with generic “PAS 24 compliant” claims and wants independent confirmation that the specific installed product and configuration meet the required standard.
- There is a mismatch between the as-built installation and the original specification, and building control needs clarity on whether the changes affect compliance.
- Installations are broadly sound, but records and product evidence are incomplete, and a third-party inspection is requested to help demonstrate that the overall installation still meets regulatory requirements.
In each of these cases, a clear, structured RISA report, supported by photographs and technical explanation, has helped building control to reach a confident, defensible decision.
Supporting installers, fabricators and clients
For all parties the new environment can feel demanding – but it also offers an opportunity to demonstrate professionalism and quality.
Engaging RISA can help to:
- Provide reassurance where building control is seeking additional evidence.
- Reduce delays to completion by answering technical questions in a clear, impartial way.
- Strengthen your own documentation trail, showing that you take compliance seriously.
Need support with a building control query?
If you are facing a situation where building control is asking for more information or specialist findings on window or door installations – particularly around PAS 24 or other technical standards – RISA can help.
Our inspectors provide independent, expert assessments that building control bodies recognise and value as part of their compliance decision-making.
To discuss a specific project or to find out more about how RISA inspections can support building control sign-off, please call or email.
Lee Galley – RISA Independent Inspections Manager