By Jon Vanstone, chair, Certass Trade Association.

As the glazing industry looks ahead to the next wave of regulatory reform, it is clear that competency is firmly back on the agenda. With the Building Safety Regulator now at centre stage, the focus is shifting towards ensuring that every tradesperson is not only competent, but that the systems around them are robust, clear, and built on accountability.

At the heart of this is the upcoming refresh of the Mandatory Technical Competency requirements.

Certass has been at the table throughout these discussions. As a trusted voice representing our members and the wider industry, we have helped shape the next generation of competency requirements.

Our role, much like it was during the fast-changing guidance of the pandemic era, is to ensure that installers are informed, supported, and able to adapt quickly to change. At that time, the pace, clarity, and accessibility of the guidance Certass delivered was invaluable and now, as new standards emerge, we are once again leading from the front.

This next stage of technical competency is all about strengthening the compliance chain, which has been under national scrutiny since the Grenfell tragedy. One of the key changes already being introduced across competent person schemes is the need to record product information at the point of job registration.

This increased focus is not coincidental. It is a deliberate step by Government to improve traceability, workmanship, and energy efficiency outcomes.

Why does product information matter so much now? For several reasons:

First, we must not forget the lessons of Grenfell. When the wrong products are used in buildings, the consequences can be devastating.

Second, the Government’s commitment to upgrade 1.5 million homes over the next five years, alongside building another 1.5 million, places a sharper focus on energy performance. Glazing plays a key role in this, and improvements cannot be accurately measured unless we know what products have been fitted.

Third, Approved Document 7, which covers workmanship and materials, puts the onus firmly on the installer to ensure that what is used is appropriate and compliant. Without knowledge of the products, there is no effective compliance chain.

At Certass, we believe that responsibility should be shared across the supply chain, because the tradesperson should not be left to carry that burden alone.

These new expectations will impact all certification bodies. Certass included. However most importantly we are ready, and our existing MTC structure is aligned to how we need to move forward. The advice our Trade Association gives will be both timely and accurate.

For installers, the message is clear. Competency is no longer just about how well you fit a product. It is about understanding the characteristics of what you are installing, how it interacts with the rest of the building, and how to demonstrate that your decision-making aligns with regulations.

At Certass, as during Covid, we will be your most reliable source of guidance, for our members and wider industry.

With the right guidance and preparation, change does not have to be disruptive. The new technical competency framework will help redefine what good looks like in our industry. Certass is committed to making sure industry understands what that means, and most importantly, how to show it.