Northern Ireland Building Regulations Advisory Committee
The Northern Ireland Building Regulations Advisory Committee (NIBRAC) is a statutory body set up under Article 4 of the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 to advise the department on the amendment of Building Regulations and other associated matters.
The role of NIBRAC
Article 4. (1) of the 1979 Order states: "The Building Regulations Advisory Committee (in this Order referred to as "the Advisory Committee") shall continue to exist to advise the department upon the amendment of building regulations and upon any matter arising out of or connected with the amendment or operation of Building Regulations which may be referred to the Advisory Committee by the department”.
Members of NIBRAC are appointed by the Department in accordance with the procedures set out in the Code of Practice of the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland (CPANI). Building Standards Branch within Properties Division is responsible for co-ordinating the appointments to NIBRAC, and acts as a secretariat.
Members of NIBRAC are not appointed to represent particular interests or organisations, but rather for the independent experience and knowledge they can bring to the committee. However, care is taken to ensure that the membership of the committee reflects the range of expertise in the building industry, and those likely to be affected by the regulations. Appointments are unpaid, however members may claim for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the business of the committee.
NIBRAC Chair and members
| Length of each term of appointment | Three Years |
|---|---|
| Remuneration | None, although members will be reimbursed for reasonable expenses |
| Workload | Three to four meetings per year and preparation. Members may also be required to attend Technical Sub-Committees. |
| Name | Date of first appointment | Expiry of appointment | Term | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chair | ||||
| Mabel Higgins | 15 April 2019 | 14 April 2025 | Second | |
| Members | Area of expertise on NIBRAC | |||
| Ross Reid | Architecture | 30 September 2019 | 29 September 2025 | Second |
| Martin McCook | Building Regulation Enforcement | 1 March 2021 | 28 February 2027 | Second |
| Vacant | Building Services, Engineering and Energy | n/a | n/a | |
| Andrew Corbett | Building Surveying | 1 March 2021 | 28 February 2027 | Second |
| Andrew Frew | Construction (domestic) | 1 March 2021 | 28 February 2027 | Second |
| Cormac Freehill | Construction (non-domestic) | 1 March 2021 | 28 February 2027 | Second |
| Vacant | Fire Safety (fire protection & fire safety engineering) | n/a | n/a | |
| Vacant | Structural Engineering | n/a | n/a |