Building standards set out what good looks like. Delivering better buildings depends on how those standards are understood, applied and supported by practical competence.
In this episode of Behind The Built Environment, David Frise, Chief Executive of BESA, speaks with Ant Burd, Director at BSI Standards.
Ant explains how standards are developed, how they support building regulations and why contractors, residents and the wider supply chain should help shape them. The conversation explores the gap between good paperwork and sound judgement, the pressures created by cost-driven procurement, and the importance of collaboration in delivering safer, more sustainable buildings.
This episode covers:
\* The status of standards and when regulations or contracts give them greater authority
\* How contractors and other stakeholders can contribute to standards development
\* Resolving conflicting standards before design and construction begin
\* Building safety responsibilities and the changes still needed following Grenfell
\* Practical competence, experience and the limits of qualifications
\* Making standards easier for smaller contractors to find and use
\* AI, human judgement and the future of machine-readable standards
The discussion also considers how standards can support energy performance through design, commissioning and everyday operation. As technology changes how technical information is accessed, Ant highlights the continuing need for trusted sources, competent people and shared responsibility for the buildings the industry delivers.
