Which regulations set the building control procedure for higher-risk building work in England?

The Fire Safety Regulations 2022

Free Registered Building Inspector Practice Test 2026

200 questions on the Building Safety Act, the competence framework and the RBI code of conduct: classes, procedure, dutyholders, notices, gateways and higher-risk buildings. Tuned for mobile. No account needed.

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The Building Inspector exam at a glance

To work as a building inspector in England (assessing plans, inspecting building work or advising a building control body) you must be on the Building Safety Regulator's register. Class 1 is a supervised trainee; classes 2 and 3 must pass an independent competence assessment from a BSR-approved scheme, based on the Building Inspector Competence Framework, and be reassessed at least every 4 years. Class 2 covers buildings under 18 m (categories A to F); class 3 adds non-standard and higher-risk buildings (G and H); class 4 is a technical manager. Every RBI must follow the BSR code of conduct. Each scheme sets its own assessment method, so Tigertest's 70% is a readiness line, not an official pass mark.

Tigertest has 200 Building Inspector practice questions with explanations, free to start with no account required.

Regulator: Building Safety Regulator (standalone since January 2026)
Who assesses: BSR-approved independent competence schemes
Classes: 1 trainee, 2 (A to F), 3 (G and H), 4 technical manager
Reassessment: At least every 4 years
Rules: Building Act 1984 Part 2A, BICoF, RBI code of conduct
Pass mark: Set by each scheme; Tigertest uses 70%

Updated November 2026 by the Tigertest team. Practice questions follow the GOV.UK registered building inspector guidance and the BSR codes and standards (updated 22 May 2026), checked November 2026. Exam rules change, so confirm current details with GOV.UK: Registered building inspectors.

How It Works

Train, Then Test

Four training sets, from Registration & Code of Conduct to Higher-Risk Buildings & Safety. Master a topic, then take a test. Questions you miss come back until you have mastered them.

Practice Tests

Four 50-question practice tests across every topic, with a 70% readiness line and an explanation of the right answer on every question.

Built on the Competence Framework and the Code

BSR does not publish how the assessment is weighted, so the practice tests spread across the subject areas of the Building Inspector Competence Framework and the code of conduct, with procedure, higher-risk buildings and inspection practice carrying the most questions. Every question is original and follows the law in force in England.

Registration, Classes & Restricted Activities12%

Code of Conduct14%

Building Control Procedure14%

Dutyholders & Competence12%

Higher-Risk Buildings14%

Enforcement & Dangerous Structures12%

Operational Standards & Inspection14%

Wider Law, Guidance & Safety8%

For Course Tutors

Training building control surveyors for their assessment? Set Tigertest as practice at tigertest.io/teach and see which topics your group misses most. It is free for you and your learners.

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How to Prepare for the RBI Competence Assessment

1. Know the classes and what each may do

Learn the four classes, the building categories each covers and which activities are restricted to registered inspectors. Many questions turn on whether an inspector is working within their class.

2. Learn the procedure end to end

Follow a project through the Building Regulations 2010 procedure: applications, commencement, inspections, completion and the notices that can be served. Then do the same for a higher-risk building through each gateway.

3. Read the code of conduct closely

The code's duties on honesty, competence, conflicts of interest and reporting come up again and again. Know what an inspector must do when asked to work outside their competence or to approve something they doubt.

4. Fix your misses, then retest

Tigertest tracks your accuracy by topic. Aim for 85 percent on every practice test, then retrain your weakest topic.

Registered Building Inspector Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to register to work as a building inspector?

Yes. In England it is a criminal offence to assess plans, inspect building work or advise a building control body on its regulated functions without being registered with the Building Safety Regulator.

Which class do I need?

Class 1 is for trainees working under supervision. Class 2 lets you work alone on buildings under 18 m (categories A to F). Class 3 adds non-standard and higher-risk buildings (G and H). Class 4 is for technical managers who already hold class 2 or 3.

How is competence assessed?

Classes 2 and 3 need a certificate from an independent, BSR-approved competence scheme, assessed against the Building Inspector Competence Framework. Each scheme sets its own method, and you must be reassessed at least every 4 years.

What does this practice test cover?

Registration and the code of conduct, building control procedure under the Building Regulations 2010, dutyholders and competence, the higher-risk building regime, enforcement notices, dangerous structures and demolition, the operational standards rules and the wider law an inspector works within. Technical Approved Document values are in our Building Regulations test.

Does it cover Wales?

No. It follows the law and BSR documents for England. Wales has its own register categories, code of conduct and appeal routes, run by the Welsh Ministers.

I teach a building inspector competence course. Can my students use Tigertest?

Yes, for free. Make a class at tigertest.io/teach, post one link, and students join with just their name. You see who practised, their test scores and the topics your class misses most.

Building Inspector sample questions and answers

6 of the 200 practice questions, one from each topic, with the answer explained.

1. What can follow a breach of the RBI code of conduct?
- A.A compliance notice
- B.Cancelled registration
- C.A planning enforcement notice
- D.A section 36 notice
Answer: B. A breach may be used as evidence of professional misconduct and can lead to disciplinary action, including cancellation. The other notices deal with building work.
2. What must the client make sure designers and contractors know under regulation 11B?
- A.The client's profit margin
- B.The inspector's salary
- C.The planning fee paid
- D.If it is higher-risk work
Answer: D. Regulation 11B requires the client to make sure designers and contractors know when a project includes higher-risk building work, and to review this periodically.
3. A builder breaches a compliance notice. What does section 35B let them argue to avoid conviction?
- A.A reasonable excuse
- B.The notice was verbal
- C.The client paid late
- D.The work was minor
Answer: A. Section 35B makes it an offence to contravene a compliance notice without reasonable excuse.
4. Which regulations set the building control procedure for higher-risk building work in England?
- A.The RBCA Regulations 2024
- B.The Fire Safety Regulations 2022
- C.HRB Procedures Regs 2023
- D.The CDM Regulations 2015
Answer: C. The Building (Higher-Risk Buildings Procedures) (England) Regulations 2023 apply instead of most 2010 procedural rules. The substantive Schedule 1 requirements still apply.
5. Which Part of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations 2010 covers access to and use of buildings?
- A.Part K
- B.Part P
- C.Part M
- D.Part B
Answer: C. Part M covers access to and use of buildings. Part K is protection from falling, collision and impact, and Part P electrical safety in dwellings.
6. How should building control records be stored under the operational standards?
- A.In shareable electronic form
- B.As paper files only
- C.On each inspector's phone
- D.In the client's own system
Answer: A. Rule 1.8 requires records to be easy to identify, update, share and transfer electronically.

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