7 Questions with Ciaran Jackson

Welcome to 7 Questions with BB7, our interview series that shines a spotlight on the talented people who shape our business.

In this episode, I caught up with Ciaran Jackson, one of our amazing Senior Engineers based in our Dublin office. Ciaran shares his career journey into Assigned Certifier and PSDP work, explains what the role involves, discusses the opportunities and challenges AI could bring to the profession, and offers his advice for anyone considering a career in building control and certification.

1. To start us off, can you tell us a bit about your career journey and what led you into Assigned Certifier and Project Supervisor Design Process (PSDP) work?

I graduated with my engineering degree in 2010, but the job market wasn’t promising. A friend in a similar position convinced me to move to Canada for a year as a fresh start. Nine years later, I returned to Ireland after spending some time working in construction, but mostly in hospitality at Whistler Ski Resort. Looking to get back into engineering, I applied for a role that was described as inspecting and certifying buildings – without really knowing what I was getting myself into.

2. For anyone who might not know, what does your role actually involve day to day, and what do you enjoy most about it?

My typical week for Assigned Certifier/PSDP workload will be a combination of meetings, site inspections and writing emails or reports.

The PSDP role in Ireland is similar to the Principal Designer (CDM) in the UK, where our goal is to ensure that each member of the design team is cognizant of health and safety in their design and that the design team coordinates. That happens through meetings or workshops where we identify and question any gaps or omissions to make sure they have been properly considered. We also produce a Preliminary Health and Safety Plan, which brings that information together at the tender stage, so the contractor has that information from the beginning.

The Assigned Certifier role focuses on ensuring that construction is completed in accordance with the building regulations and on handling the paperwork to be submitted to Building Control to demonstrate such compliance. During the design stage, this involves checking that the necessary applications have been completed and that the design complies with the Building Regulations. During construction, we will regularly attend the site and inspect the works against the building regulations to highlight issues. Towards the end, we gather certificates from all sub-contractors and the design team detailing their work. Upon completion, the Assigned Certifier must sign a Certificate of Compliance on Completion (CCC), a formal legal declaration confirming that the finished building fully complies with the Building Regulations. This legal documentation requires us to ensure that the Building Regulations have been followed closely throughout the project, underscoring the importance of the Assigned Certifier role in the project lifecycle.

3. Because you’re involved so early in the process, what are the main things you’re looking out for before a project gets too far down the line?

We need to watch for any elements that haven’t received the design attention they deserve or do not have party responsibility for the design. The more projects you work on, the more you notice what gets ignored or what causes surprises later in the project. These can be elements like support structures where the specialist sub-contractor may say the design team designed the system, while the design team say the opposite. These issues need to be identified early because, if they’re missed, they will result in delays, last-minute changes, or the need to hire third parties for review.

4. Have you noticed any changes in regulations, responsibilities or client expectations that are changing the way this work is delivered?

The BCAR certification process was introduced in 2014, which is when the Assigned Certifier role was formally created. The industry was well-versed in the role by the time I started, but I still feel like knowledge of the process and requirements is improving across the design teams, contractors, and clients. I also still come across older contractors who clearly haven’t accepted the process and are reluctant to the oversight and paperwork that it brings, but overall, I see more acceptance.

5. You’re really interested in AI, what role do you think AI could play in the future of Assigned Certifier and PSDP work, and where do you see the biggest opportunities or risks for the profession?

There is a lot of writing and reviewing involved in the role, which can be assisted by AI, reducing the time required for the more mundane and repetitive tasks. I’ve also found it very useful for searching documents and standards and pointing me to where I need to go. But the flip side is that I would only trust the use of AI in this role if the person is experienced enough to be critical and to catch its hallucinations. It can confidently add sentences, adjust wording or reference standards which don’t exist, which, of course, I am still responsible for.

I see a risk towards the development of Juniors. If AI can create a first draft of a document in seconds and then needs editing and correction, will tasks needed for development be taken from juniors?

6. Looking back on your career so far, are there any projects that stand out as particularly memorable or rewarding, and what made them significant for you?

No.10 Ardee Street has been impressive to watch change from a dilapidated historic building with half-demolished structures hanging off the side into a fully refurbished house that retains much of the original 1800s plasterwork and joinery while integrating an adjoining modern building extension.

Any large construction is always rewarding to see progress from a hole in the ground to a structure that dwarfs you.

7. What advice would you give to someone thinking about a career in building control, certification or health and safety design?

Learn anything and everything about construction, and be prepared for this continuous professional development to be a constant throughout your whole career. The role exposes you to all types and aspects of construction, from the works needed to stabilise a structure dating back to the 1800s, to modern Glulam structures, magnetic shielding in an MRI room and the correct locations of coat hooks in accessible bathrooms. It’s a difficult first few years in this job getting up to speed, but once you have a base that gives you confidence, you will enjoy the constant learning and variety on offer.

A big thank you to Ciaran for sharing his story and giving us an insight into life as a Senior Engineer within BB7’s Assigned Certifier and PSDP team. From his unconventional career journey to his thoughts on AI and the future of the profession, it’s clear that curiosity, collaboration and continuous learning are at the heart of his work.