The Scottish Type Approval Scheme
(STAS)
 Download "What is STAS" Guidance document
Introduction
The Scottish Association of Building Standards Managers
(SABSM) Scottish Type Approval Scheme (STAS) provides a fast track
route to approval through the regulatory procedures for standard
buildings, modular buildings or building systems. Local authorities
throughout Scotland are members of the STAS.
In England and Wales, a similar service is provided
through the Local Authority National Type Approval Confederation
(LANTAC).
This brochure briefly explains the benefits of using
STAS and how it can meet the needs of house builders, clients,
architects; design engineers and system build manufacturers.
Depending on your needs, there are two routes for
obtaining approval under the STAS. You can obtain approval either
as a Type Approval or a System Approval.
Type Approval
Type Approval is suitable for complete standard building designs
and for standard building modules (domestic and commercial) that
are replicated in different local authority areas. Permanent variations
to such designs can be included with a Type Approval and any subsequent
amendments to the approved design can be obtained from the local
authority in whose area the building warrant is obtained.
System Approval
System approval is suitable for building systems that are capable
of producing or being incorporated within a variety of different
buildings using standard components and construction details.
The Scottish Type Approval Scheme
The Scottish Type Approval Scheme is your guarantee of
- consistent interpretation of building standards,
- a fast track through building standards approval,
- a single point of contact with building standards authorities,
- confidence in a design checked by STAS,
- checks by the local authority will be confined to site related
matters
User guides
User guides are available
from our Secretary/Administrator or web site to explain the operation
of each scheme in more detail:
- House Type Approval
- Commercial and Industrial Type Approval
- System Type Approval
House Builders
Scottish House Type / Systems Type Approvals
If you are a house builder and you erect a range of house types
in different local authority areas, the STAS House Type or System
Type Approval Scheme has special benefits for you.
To apply for House or System Type Approval for your House or
System, please return the completed application
form, (using the form obtainable from the address at the end
of this leaflet or through our web site) together with a register
of the names and type of houses/system to be subject to assessment
and the prescribed fee to the Secretary/Administrator of the STAS.
If your application is suitable for the STAS, a Lead authority
and a Checking Authority will be appointed to deal with your application.
You will be informed by the Secretary/Administrator, who these
are and where to send the information in support of your application.
Your plans will be checked under the scheme procedures, and a
House Type or System Type Approval certificate will be issued
for each house/system design once it complies with current Building
Standards. Please note that this Type Approval is not site specific
and also that a fee of
- domestic applications - £250 plus £150 per house type,
- system applications - £250 plus £750 per system ,
is payable.
Once a certificate has been issued, using it is just as easy.
You simply deposit the building warrant application form and plans
to the appropriate local authority, in the normal way, together
with the statutory building warrant fee, attaching a copy of your
Type Approval certificate. The local authority will not re-examine
type approved plans, and will only look at site-related matters
that are not covered under the STAS certificate. You may make
amendments to the Type Approval on individual sites by applying
to the local authority for an amendment in the usual manner. Type
Approvals will last until an amendment to the building standards
means a re design is necessary. The Secretary/Administrator of
the STAS will inform you when this is happening to enable you
to address the necessary items without delay, so your approval
can be re-validated to meet revised building standards.
Commercial or Industrial Building Developers
Scottish Commercial or Industrial Type / Systems Approvals
If you are a developer and you erect a range of commercial or
industrial type buildings in different local authority areas,
the STAS Commercial or Industrial Type/Systems Approval Scheme
has special benefits for you.
To apply for a Commercial or Industrial Type/System Approval,
please return the completed application
form, (using the form obtainable from the address at the end
of this leaflet or through our web site) together with a register
of the names and type to be subject to assessment and the prescribed
fee to the Secretary/Administrator of the STAS. If your application
is suitable for the STAS, a Lead authority and a Checking Authority
will be appointed to deal with your application. You will be informed
who these are and where to send the information in support of
your application
Your plans will be checked under the scheme procedures, and a
Commercial or Industrial Type/System Approval certificate will
be issued for each building design once it complies with current
Building Standards. Please note that this Type/System Approval
is not site specific and also that a fee of:-
- system applications - £250 plus £750 per
system,
- commercial/industrial applications - £250 plus
£750 per building type.
is payable for each application
Once a certificate has been issued, using it is just as easy.
You simply deposit the building warrant application form and plans
to the appropriate local authority, in the normal way, together
with the statutory building warrant fee, attaching a copy of your
Type/System Approval certificate. The local authority will not
re-examine type/system approved plans, and will only look at site-related
matters that are not covered under the STAS certificate. You may
make amendments to the Type/System Approval on individual sites
by applying to the local authority for an amendment in the usual
manner. Type/System Approvals will last until an amendment to
the building standards means a re design is necessary. The Secretary/Administrator
of STAS will inform you when this is happening to enable you to
address the necessary items without delay, so your approval can
be re-validated to meet revised building standards.
What can STAS do for you?
STAS offers significant benefits for major clients commissioning
complex developments that include standard elements.
Retail developments, shell fit outs, restaurants, hotels, leisure
facilities, warehousing, office buildings and industrial units
all frequently incorporate standard design elements within the
overall scheme. A STAS certificate for standard details will speed
up the approval process and ensure that your project progresses
more rapidly.
The involvement of local authority professional building control
staff is the client’s guarantee of a service, which is publicly
accountable, with independent plan checking and site inspection.
Depending on the nature of your project you may wish to use either
the STAS House Type Approval Scheme, Commercial and Industrial
(non-residential) Type Approval Scheme or the System Type Approval
Scheme.
We are committed to offering every assistance to make the application
and approval system as quick and easy as possible – including
providing a single point of contact for you.
Architects and Design Engineers:
Pass on real savings courtesy of STAS
If you have standard units or modular buildings, or if you have
a range of standard designs that you use for different buildings,
these can all be Type approved under the STAS. Similarly, if you
have developed a building system that uses standard components
and construction details to produce a variety of building types,
these can be System approved under the unique System Type Approval
Scheme.
One of the major benefits of a STAS certificate is that it gives
the designer certainty, and eliminates the need to provide each
different local authority with the same information. A STAS certificate
saves time and delivers quicker approvals and shorter lead-in
times.
System building manufacturers
A time saving, flexible approval scheme
STAS understands the needs of the specialist field of modular
system building and intends to provide a flexible scheme to suit
any building or module constructed using a building system
Any questions?
If you would like to know more about theSTAS described in this
brochure, you can contact the STAS Secretary/Administrator direct
or visit our web site www.sabsm.co.uk
The Secretary/Administrator of STAS can be contacted through
Tweedbank, The Croft, St Boswells, MELROSE TD6 0AE
E-mail: bobr@stbs30.wanadoo.co.uk
By telephoning 01835 823479
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