The new Building Control (Amendment) Regulations (BCAR) were introduced in 2014. The Regulations have amended the existing legislation in order to strengthen existing provisions in relation to notifications, compliance and registration of buildings. 

BCAR introduced amendments to the following sets of Irish Legislation:

• Building Control Act 1990 (No. 3 of 1990) as amended by the Building Control Act 2007 (No. 21 of 2007).
• Building Control Regulations 1997 (S.I. No. 496 of 1997) as amended by the Building Control (Amendment).
• Regulations 2000 (S.I. No. 10 of 2000).
• Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2004 (S.I. No. 85 of 2004) and 
• Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2009 (S.I. No. 351 of 2009).
   

The Building Control Regulations have existed since 1991 and regulate the following:

• Commencement Notices 
• 7 Day Notices 
• Fire Safety Certificates, revised Fire Safety Certificates and Regularisation Fire Safety Certificates
• Disability Access Certificates and revised Disability Access Certificates
• Maintenance of Registers
• Fees

It must be highlighted, that whilst BCAR has strengthen previous regulations, the obligation to build in accordance with the Building Regulations has not changed. The main change has been that the certification process has changed under the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014.  

Prior to the works being carried out on site, a Commencement Notice or a 7 Day Notice is required to be filed. The Notice shall be accompanied by: 
Such plans, calculations, specifications and particulars as are necessary to outline how the proposed works or building will comply with the requirements of the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations relevant to the works or building concerned, and including:

• General arrangement drawings including plans, sections and elevations.
• A schedule of such plans, calculations, specifications and particulars as are currently designed or as are to be prepared at a later date.
• The completion of an online assessment, via the Building Control Management System, of the proposed approach to compliance with the requirements of the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations.
• The preliminary Inspection Plan prepared by the Assigned Certifier.

The following certificates and notices in the appropriate forms set out in the Second Schedule:

• A Certificate of Compliance (Design).
• A Notice of Assignment of Person to Inspect and Certify Works (Assigned Certifier). 
• A Certificate of Compliance (Undertaking by Assigned Certifier). 
• A Notice of Assignment of Builder.
• A Certificate of Compliance (Undertaking by Builder).

A 7-Day Notice must also be accompanied by a valid application for a Fire Safety Certificate and a 7-Day Notice
statutory declaration, forms for this purpose are specified in the Third Schedule. 

7-Day Notices are accompanied by a fee of €250 or €5.80 per square metre of floor, whichever is the greater, up to a maximum of €25,000. 

Commencement notices must be received by the Building Control Authority not less than 14 days and not more than 28 days before the Builder intends to commence work on site. The preferred method of lodgement of notices is via the Building Control Management System (BCMS).