Scaffolding contractors will be able to opt out of the Building Safety section of the Common Assessment Standard (CAS) where it does not apply to their work, under changes taking effect next month.
Build UK is due to publish Version 6 of the industry prequalification standard on 1 November 2026. The updated questions will distinguish between temporary scaffolding and work that forms part of a finished building.
In guidance issued on 22 October, the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) said firms whose activities are not covered by the Building Regulations must actively opt out of Section 7 and provide a statement confirming why it does not apply.
The change follows a clarification announced earlier this year. Build UK’s statement of 23 July says scaffolding and temporary works are not generally within the Building Regulations governing building work unless they form part of the structure once complete. It also makes clear that competence requirements under the Building Safety Act still matter to the sector.
In its 22 October statement, NASC said it had written to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in March seeking clarification after contractors encountered difficulties completing the assessment. The trade body said subsequent correspondence from the Housing Minister to the Building Safety Regulator helped clarify the distinction between temporary works and building work covered by the regulations.
Clive Dickin, group chief executive of NASC and CISRS, said: “This change removes a source of ambiguity and will make the assessment process clearer for our members.”
Competence checks remain
The revised standard will move competence-related questions out of the Building Safety section and into Section 5, which covers quality. That means the questions will apply to all companies going through CAS assessment, including scaffold contractors that opt out of Section 7.
NASC also says drugs and alcohol policies and fraud prevention procedures will become mandatory requirements for all companies under Version 6. The final question set has not yet been published, so the precise evidence assessors will require remains to be seen.
Companies will complete the Version 6 assessment at their next certification after 1 November, according to NASC. In the meantime, Build UK’s current guidance still refers to Version 5 and explains that certification is carried out through recognised assessment bodies.
NASC plans assessment role
Alongside the standard change, NASC says it is applying to register a Recognised Assessment Body and is inviting members to register their interest in NASC+, with a 50% discount offered on a first audit. The organisation has not announced that its application has been approved.
The update follows the ministerial clarification reported by Scaffmag in July. The new development is how that distinction will be reflected in the industry assessment used by construction clients and main contractors.
Contractors undertaking a mix of temporary works and work incorporated into the completed structure will need to establish which CAS requirements apply to their activities. An opt-out from the assessment section should not be read as an exemption from wider safety or competence duties.
