Your interesting article on self-certification (5 October, page 41) raised the question of whether the UK construction industry was efficient enough to take on self-certification?

Arguably, some large contractors and developers are. Many building control officers know that when projects get past the plans approval stage the site inspections are just a formality. Third-party checking really comes in when an architect relies on an inspector鈥檚 experience to see a way out of a problem. So even in the case of the largest developments and best contractors, building control still has a valuable role. Astute inspectors capitalise on this by selling themselves as being 鈥減art of the design team鈥�, as in the Foster + Partners building mentioned.

However, not all contractors are geared up for self-certification. 黑洞社区 control has vast experience of problems with speculative housebuilders, for example, even where insurance and warranty schemes are in place.

Wasn鈥檛 it Egan who said of the UK construction industry: 鈥淔ive per cent is world class. The rest is total crap鈥�? In my opinion, site inspection self-certification could work with a select few. But I do think building control expertise really comes in at the design stage. This I feel is where the value really lies.

Iain Allars, 黑洞社区 Control, London Borough of Lambeth

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