Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1513813
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 31 DECEMBER 2023 8 COMMERCIAL 2023: Foundations strengthened, heights attained in a pivotal year SINCE its inception in 2021, the Building and Construction Authority has embarked on an arduous journey to regulate the building and construction sector in Malta. 2023 was a successful year for the Authority character- ised by radical changes and new achievements. Starting off, a lot of work was done in relation to enforcement in order to safeguard the safety of third parties whilst construction is taking place. On a day-to-day basis, building inspectors carry out inspections in constructions sites round the country, making sure that the building and con- struction work done is regulat- ed. The number of building in- spectors increased in 2023, and more inspectors are intended to be engaged with the Authority in 2024. The Building and Con- struction Authority makes sure that the inspectors are given ade- quate training, focused on build- ing sites safety. On top of this, the Building and Construction Authority believes that educa- tion is key in what the Authority is trying to achieve. There is no point in having a large number of building inspectors, if the gen- eral public and the main players are not properly educated. This is imperative in order to reduce negative consequences. One of the biggest achieve- ments in 2023, was the issuing of the Contractor's License. This was delivered after a lengthy process, following an exten- sive public consultation with all stakeholders on the drafting of a legal notice. The public consul- tation was open to self-employed individuals, large contractors, professionals within the indus- try, and the general public. The change in the Subsidiary Legisla- tion instigates more responsibil- ity, professionalism and a higher quality on how things are carried out. By the end of October 2023, more than 3,500 applications were submitted for the Contrac- tor's License. Earlier this year, a draft was put up for Public Consultation to change the regulations for the mason's license. The public con- sultation will define what skills a person must have as a mason in Malta. This is another step in a series of ambitious reforms, which will help in further regu- lating the construction sector. The draft emphasises the impor- tance of training to ensure that both those applying for a license for the first time, and those al- ready possessing one, continue to improve their skills and are made more aware of the best practices within the industry. Another important area which falls under the remit of the Build- ing and Construction Authority is energy efficieny in buildings. Energy efficiency involves using less energy and using energy re- sponsibly. It can impact every as- pect of our lives, including what we buy and where we live. When it comes to homes, it is impor- tant to know how your home operates and consumes energy, while becoming more mindful of energy sources. Choosing to buy an energy-efficient home is a great start to living more com- fortably and saving on energy bills. By making energy efficien- cy choices, you're also helping to protect our environment. The Building and Construction Au- thority takes the necessary meas- ures to establish minimum en- ergy performance requirements for buildings or building units, with a view to achieving cost-op- timal levels. Furthermore, the Building and Construction Au- thority published an updated draft of documents for public consultation, labelled as Docu- ment F. to set out the minimum requirements for new and exist- ing buildings to be renovated to efficiently maximise the energy use. The new Document F will replace the document currently in force. Itshould serve as a guide for professionals, contractors, and operators in the construc- tion field. Everyone needs to rec- ognise their obligations on ener- gy efficiency, as required by law. Moreover, a course was organ- ised by the BCA on the Energy Performance Rating of Dwellings in Malta (EPRDM), where more than 150 periti and engineers be- came assessors. Therefore, they can provide consultation to the public on energy performance in residential buildings. Finally, the Authority inaugu- rated new offices in Marsa and in the Gozo Innovation Hub, equipped with energy-saving systems. The work of the Build- ing and Construction Authority is based on three main pillars. The latter include the strength- ening of human resources, the modernisation of the building it- self and the strengthening of the technological tools. The Build- ing and Construction Author- ity will also be investing nearly €2 million in a new IT system. The overarching objective is to modernise its operations. This upgraded digitisation system will have its own platform, which en- ables the issuing of permits and licenses among others. In 2023, the Authority has con- sistently exceeded performance expectations, demonstrating a strong commitment to excel- lence, and achieving significant milestones. The Building and Construction Authority is now eagerly anticipating the oppor- tunities that 2024 holds, with a commitment to build on the suc- cess of this year.