Competent Persons Reports, also known as CPRs, are commonly used in the construction industry when there are questions about the safety of a building or structure that hasn’t been occupied yet. When a building owner or contractor suspects problems with their project, they can hire an independent engineer to perform a Competent Persons Report, which will tell the owners whether or not the structure needs to be repaired or if it’s safe to occupy. Keep reading to learn more about how these reports work and what you can expect when you receive one on your own property.
What Is A Competent Persons Report?
A competent person’s report is a form of a technical review, where a professional will investigate an organisation’s processes and procedures for safety or regulatory compliance. The purpose of the report is to provide management with the recommendations necessary for improvement and corrective actions.
Competent persons reports are often required by law and typically, these reports will cover topics like:
– Hazards and risks that may be faced in the workplace
– Safety measures that have been put into place
– How safety is managed
What Do Competent Person (CP) Reports Contain?
In a nutshell, the purpose of a competent person report is to provide an independent assessment of the condition of an asset (e.g., a water tank) that is critical for its future operation and safe use. The primary output for this report would be a technical opinion about whether there are any significant defects in the asset and if not, how long it can be expected to remain functional. Other reports might also include recommendations for possible further investigations or work required on the asset.
Start by considering what your expectations are in terms of what you want from your CP Report:
Do you want a one-off assessment or do you want regular inspections?
Do you want to know if repairs need to be carried out as soon as possible or will they suffice until the next scheduled inspection?
Is it okay if the cost of repairs outweighs the benefits of keeping the asset in service, at which point should we take into account replacement options?
What will happen when we get that decision wrong and damages start to accrue at a rapid rate?
Finally, who should pay for this kind of detailed evaluation process and who should own these assessments?
How To Write Your Own CP Report
A competent person’s report is a document prepared by a qualified, independent professional who reports on the suitability of a premises for specific use. It’s an important aspect of any type of development and can be used as evidence in court proceedings when there are concerns over liability. This document is often needed before granting planning permission or consenting to certain types of development.
A competent person’s report can contain various components depending on the needs of the prospective developer and the requirements for the project.
Additional Notes about CP reports
Competent persons reports are a type of report that can be commissioned by property owners who want to find out what is happening with their property. In order to get this type of report, the owner must contact an expert in the field and ask them for help. Once they have done that, they will need to provide the expert with any information and documents related to the property. The expert will then go on site and inspect it, analysing any potential problems that are present before providing a report with all of their findings. This is usually what happens if someone has found something wrong on their own and wants confirmation from an expert.