Approved Certifiers of Construction are suitably qualified and experienced professionals who operate under, and are registered by, scheme providers such as SNIPEF.
The scheme allows individuals to self-certify work that is subject to a Building Warrant, providing an alternative to using local authority building standards inspectors.
On completion of the work, an Approved Certifier will provide a certificate confirming the work covered by the certificate complies with the building regulations.
Schemes are operated by the Scottish Government Building Standards Division (BSD) and delivered through scheme providers approved by Scottish Ministers. SNIPEF is the scheme provider for the Approved Certifier of Construction Scheme (Drainage, Heating and Plumbing) (ACCS). Areas of work covered by the scheme include:
To find out more, download the Scheme Guide.
To join the scheme, individuals (Approved Certifiers) must be employed by a business (Approved Body) which is a member of the Plumbing Industry Licensing Scheme or which meets the criteria of the Licensing Scheme.
Individuals must be qualified at either Advanced or Technician level and hold appropriate qualifications for the scope of work they wish to verify. In addition, they must complete a short Approved Certifier of Construction Course.
If an Approved Certifier leaves the Approved Body, they retain their status as an Approved Certifier but cannot issue any certificates until they are employed by an Approved Body.
Sole traders must be registered as both an Approved Body and an Approved Certifier.
To log in and register as an Approved Certifier so you can issue certificates click here
There is an annual fee for Approved Bodies and Approved Certifiers.
You don’t need to be a member of SNIPEF to join the scheme but the annual Approved Body fee is waived for SNIPEF members.
SNIPEF Member | Non-Member | |
Approved Body – Annual | Free | £500 |
Approved Certifier – Annual | £112.50 | £170 |
ACCS Course | £180 | £270 |
*Prices in the table above do not include VAT.