Innovative inspection app launched by NHBC to help improve construction quality management

Housing Tue, Feb 2, 2021 10:43 AM

NHBC, the leading warranty and insurance provider for new homes in the UK, has announced the roll-out of a new Technology Assisted Inspection app.

It represents the first stage in the evolution of NHBC’s technical risk management strategy, following a successful pilot in 2020.

The new app, which is being introduced by NHBC’s dedicated Inspection Team, allows house builders’ site managers to upload photographs for online inspection or re-inspection by the NHBC team.

By capturing these images of ‘live’ construction, NHBC will be able to work with site managers more efficiently, as this will allow sites to quickly continue working following our digital review and feedback, rather than waiting for an NHBC Building Inspector to physically revisit the site. The app, which 91% of site managers rated as easy to use during the pilot in 2020, also helps create a useful audit trail.

Starting this month, NHBC will also be providing onsite training to site management teams with the new app, in addition to the usual key stage inspections.

Diane Marshall, NHBC’s Operations Director said: “The launch of the new Technology Assisted Inspection app is a milestone moment in construction quality management as it represents the first stage in the evolution of our technical risk management strategy.

“We are working with our registered builders and developers to gradually move our collective focus from quality control (defects correction) to quality assurance (defects prevention).

“Following a successful pilot in 2020, the new app will enable our registered builders and developers to work more efficiently on site, reduce the significant costs of remedial works and further improve new home quality for the benefit of home buyers.”