NASC Welcomes Common Assessment Standard Changes
Build UK has announced that Version 6 of the Common Assessment Standard (CAS) will come into effect on 1 November 2026 and include important revisions to its Building Safety section (Section 7), reflecting the fact that scaffolding and temporary works no longer fall within the scope of the Building Safety Regulations, unless they form part of the completed structure.
The changes represent a positive development for the scaffolding and access sector, following NASC’s efforts to address uncertainty surrounding the interpretation of Section 7 the application of Building Safety Regulations to temporary works. In March, NASC wrote to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) seeking clarification on this issue, which had been creating difficulties for scaffolding contractors wanting to complete the Common Assessment Standard.
The matter was subsequently addressed in correspondence from the Housing Minister to the Building Safety Regulator, helping to establish greater clarity over the distinction between temporary works and building work covered by the regulations. The latest CAS revisions reflect this clarification and should help remove unnecessary barriers for scaffolding contractors seeking to demonstrate their organisational capability through the CAS process.
Good news for the scaffolding sector
Clive Dickin, Group CEO of NASC and CISRS, said: “This is excellent news for the scaffolding and access sector and a very welcome clarification from Build UK. For some time, there has been confusion about how the Building Safety requirements should apply to scaffolding contractors, with businesses facing questions in Section 7 that were not always relevant to the work they undertake.
“NASC has worked to get this issue addressed, including raising our concerns directly with MHCLG, and we are pleased to see the distinction between temporary works and building work is now recognised within the Common Assessment Standard. Scaffolding is temporary works and, unless it forms part of the completed structure, is not subject to the same regulations as building work. This change removes a source of ambiguity and will make the assessment process clearer for our members.
“NASC fully supports robust standards of competence, safety and quality across the construction industry, but it is important that assessment requirements accurately reflect the activities undertaken by specialist contractors.”
What is changing under Version 6?
Under the revised Common Assessment Standard, companies will be required to actively 'opt out' of the Building Safety section where it does not apply to their activities, providing a statement confirming that they do not undertake work covered by the Building Regulations.
Importantly, this change does not remove the requirement for scaffolding contractors to demonstrate competence or maintain appropriate safety and quality standards. Competence-based questions previously included within Section 7 have been moved into the quality section (Section 5), ensuring they are completed by all companies regardless of whether their activities fall within the scope of the Building Regulations.
Other requirements, including having a drugs and alcohol policy and fraud prevention procedures in place, will also become mandatory for all companies.
What does this mean for scaffolding contractors?
The changes will make it more straightforward for scaffolding and access businesses to complete the CAS, removing the need to answer questions that are not applicable to their operations. Companies will be required to complete the updated Version 6 question set when they next undergo certification after 1 November 2026.
The CAS is increasingly used by contractors and clients to assess the organisational capability of supply chains. Certification through a Recognised Assessment Body enables companies to demonstrate compliance with a consistent set of requirements.
NASC is in the process of applying to register a Recognised Assessment Body and members can visit here to record their interest and get a 50% discount on their first NASC+ audit.
Once certified, companies can also share their assessment data free of charge with other Recognised Assessment Bodies, increasing their visibility to contractors and clients without having to duplicate the entire assessment process.
NASC will continue to engage with Build UK and other industry stakeholders to ensure that the interests of scaffolding and access contractors are properly represented in industry assessment and accreditation requirements.
You can find further details about Version 6 of the CAS on the Build UK website.
