Defence Building Control Advisor
We are your go-to Building Control Advisor for Crown & Defence projects in the United Kingdom, ensuring compliance with the Ministry of Defence Building Regulations Compliance System (BRCS) JSP850 operational framework.
Your Trusted Defence Building Control Advisor
At SwellRock Construction Compliance, we offer expert Building Control Advisory Services for projects needing to follow the MOD’s Building Regulations Compliance Systems (BRCS) across the Defence Estate. Our role is to support, guide, and collaborate with design teams and contractors, helping the project to navigate complex regulations and seamlessly integrate compliance into your design process.
Our Building Control Advisory Services for Crown & Defence
As your Building Control Advisor for Crown & Defence projects across the UK, we provide various services. These include conducting thorough design reviews and plan assessments to ensure your designs comply with relevant Building Regulations, including Defence Infrastructure Fire Standards (DIFS), accessibility, structural integrity, and sustainability. Acting as the Building Control Advisor, we will complete a design review (plan assessment) and consult with the appointed Defence Fire Safety Regulator Fire Safety Inspector. We will work with the Appointed Contractor to provide stages of worksite inspections. The Crown has immunity and exemption from the procedural requirements of the Building Regulations in the UK. Still, policy mandates that all building works must comply with the minimum standards imposed by the Building Regulations.
Also, we offer technical guidance and advise you on how regulatory requirements will impact your design decisions and solutions. Working closely with your design team, client, and consultants, we ensure every aspect of your Defence project remains compliant. By identifying and addressing risks early on, we save you from delays or costly redesigns.
With over 10 years of experience supporting MOD projects, SwellRock Construction Compliance will help your Crown & Defence project achieve full regulatory compliance to the strict requirements of the JSP850 operational framework.
Advice for All RIBA Plan of Work Stages in MOD & Defence
As your appointed Defence Building Control Advisor, we provide independent regulatory oversight at each stage of the RIBA Plan of Work. Our role is to ensure that your project is reviewed against the applicable MOD and Defence requirements, including the BRCS (JSP850) framework.
0-1. Strategic Definition & Preparation: We acknowledge your project’s strategic objectives and prepare for regulatory oversight by identifying key compliance checkpoints.
2. Concept Design: We begin engagement at this early stage to understand the emerging design and prepare for compliance assessments later in the process.
3. Developed Design: We carry out formal design reviews (plan assessments) to assess compliance with MOD-specific standards, such as DIFS, accessibility, and sustainability.
4. Technical Design: We continue regulatory assessments and prepare documentation in line with Building Control requirements under JSP850.
5. Construction: We conduct staged inspections to monitor works against the reviewed plans and ensure that on-site construction remains compliant.
6-7. Handover & Post-Occupancy: We complete final compliance checks and confirm regulatory requirements have been met. Where necessary, we record any deviations for post-occupancy consideration.
Responsibilities of Appointed Contractor and the Building Control Advisor
Under the BRCS, Appointed Contractors are responsible for delivering fully compliant buildings. Appointed by the MOD, these contractors must ensure that all work meets the relevant Building Regulations and conforms to approved design solutions. To support this, the contractor must appoint a Building Control Advisor (BCA). The BCA conducts an independent, third-party inspection and certification process to verify compliance with the design. BCAs must be suitably qualified and experienced in Building Control to undertake this role.
Please note that Building Regulations approval is separate from Planning Permission, and both may be required for works on the Defence estate. For guidance on planning requirements, appropriate planning advice should be sought.
Contact us to discuss your Defence project’s regulatory requirements.
We support your delivery team by ensuring consistent compliance across all RIBA stages, aligned with the Ministry of Defence’s operational frameworks.