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Registers and Accreditation -
Beware Bogus Claims
When selecting a craftsperson or consultant to work on a historic building, accreditation can be invaluable as it provides assurance that the person is able to carry out certain types of work to the standard required by the accrediting body. Within the field of conservation, there are several excellent schemes run by professional bodies such as the RICS (Building Conservation Accreditation Scheme), the RIBA/AABC (Register of Architects Accredited in Building Conservation), and Icon (Professional Accreditation of Conservator-Restorers - the Conservation Register). Proper accreditation verification can be a long and costly process and is best left to statutory and professional bodies such as these.
Some start-up commercial websites now operating in the historic built environment sector claim to offer an endorsement of sorts, for both companies and individuals, through 'membership' and 'registers'. Membership of schemes such as these can mislead customers into believing that the consultant or craftsperson is accredited by a professional, not-for-profit organisation, and the development risks causing confusion in the marketplace.
Cathedral Communications does not claim to accredit any of the specialist companies or organisations listed or advertising in its printed publications or on its website. Companies are included on the basis of their established involvement in the field of conservation. Each entry has been checked to ensure that the product or service described is relevant, and we do our best to ensure that anything inappropriate is excluded. Nevertheless, specifiers and owners of historic buildings are strongly advised to exercise great care when selecting any product or service, as a product or service that is suitable in one situation may be inappropriate in another.
Customers are advised to be wary of companies claiming to be accredited or registered to work in the field of building conservation unless that accreditation is from a professional body or not-for-profit organisation.
