Common Assessment Standard Version 6: What It Means for Scaffolding Contractors

Compliance & Regulations · 8-minute read

Build UK has confirmed significant changes to the Common Assessment Standard (CAS), bringing welcome clarification for scaffolding and temporary works contractors across the UK.

Version 6 comes into effect on 1 November 2026, introducing changes to how companies demonstrate competence, organisational capability and compliance with Building Safety requirements.

The National Access & Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) welcomed the announcement on 22 October 2026, following months of engagement with government and construction industry representatives.

For scaffolding businesses, the update means fewer irrelevant assessment questions, clearer responsibilities and a more appropriate approach to demonstrating compliance.

What is the Common Assessment Standard?

The Common Assessment Standard is a construction industry pre-qualification framework developed by Build UK.

It provides a consistent method for assessing whether contractors and suppliers have the organisational capability, management procedures and competence needed to undertake construction work.

Rather than completing entirely separate pre-qualification assessments for every principal contractor or client, businesses can achieve certification through a recognised assessment body.

The standard covers areas such as:

• Health and safety management
• Financial standing and insurance
• Quality management and organisational competence
• Environmental and sustainability responsibilities
• Workforce arrangements and training
• Building Safety requirements where applicable
• Business policies and management procedures

Certification is available at desktop and site-based levels, with the appropriate level depending on the business, its work and client requirements. Companies are generally assessed annually, with certification increasingly recognised throughout major construction supply chains.

Why has Version 6 been introduced?

Until recently, scaffolding contractors faced uncertainty about whether they needed to satisfy the Building Safety section of the Common Assessment Standard.

The problem centred on a distinction between temporary works and building work under the Building Regulations. Scaffolding contractors were sometimes being asked to demonstrate compliance with dutyholder requirements that did not apply to their activities.

For smaller and specialist scaffolding firms, this created unnecessary administration and potential difficulties when pursuing accreditation or tendering for contracts.

NASC raised the issue with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in March 2026. Subsequent clarification established that temporary scaffolding and temporary works do not generally fall within the Building Regulations definition of building work unless they form part of the completed structure.

What exactly is changing under CAS Version 6?

1. An opt-out for Building Safety requirements that do not apply

Contractors whose activities do not fall within the Building Regulations definition of building work can actively opt out of Section 7.

They must provide a statement confirming that they do not undertake activities covered by the relevant Building Regulations. This should prevent scaffolding businesses from having to answer questions designed for contractors undertaking regulated building work.

2. Competence requirements move to Section 5

Competence-related questions previously included in Section 7 will move into Section 5, which covers Quality.

These questions must still be completed by all companies, regardless of whether they opt out of the Building Safety section. This preserves the importance of competence while avoiding confusion about which legislative provisions apply.

3. Additional mandatory business policies

NASC confirms that drugs and alcohol policies and fraud prevention procedures will become mandatory for all companies. The wider Version 6 update also addresses information security and supporting assessment evidence.

Contractors should review their existing documentation rather than assume previously accepted policies will automatically satisfy the revised requirements.

4. Updated requirements apply at the next assessment

Companies undergoing certification from 1 November 2026 will need to complete the updated Version 6 question set. Existing certificate holders should prepare for the new requirements at their next certification or renewal, rather than assuming they need to restart their assessment immediately.

CAS Version 5 vs Version 6: key differences

Assessment area	Version 5	Version 6
Building Safety	Section 7 created uncertainty for temporary works contractors	Explicit opt-out where requirements do not apply
Competence	Relevant questions included in Section 7	Questions moved to Section 5
Scaffolding classification	Less clarity around temporary works	Clearer distinction between temporary and permanent building work
Drugs and alcohol policy	Not universally mandatory under the same approach	Mandatory for all companies
Fraud prevention	Previous requirements	Explicit mandatory procedures for all companies
Supporting evidence	Earlier assessment guidance	Updated guidance and evidence expectations

The revised requirements should make certification more relevant to the activities actually undertaken by scaffolding businesses. Remember: these changes simplify the assessment process rather than remove the need to demonstrate competence.

Does this mean scaffolders are exempt from the Building Safety Act?

No. This is an important distinction.

The government’s clarification relates to the Building Regulations definition of building work and the associated dutyholder requirements.

Temporary access scaffolding is generally outside that specific regulatory regime unless it forms part of the permanent completed structure.

However, scaffolding contractors must still comply with applicable legislation, including:

• The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
• The Work at Height Regulations 2005
• The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
• Applicable requirements concerning temporary works, training, supervision and safe working practices

Existing responsibilities for scaffold design, erection, alteration, inspections and safe dismantling remain in place. This also applies to scaffolding used on higher-risk building projects, where additional site coordination and risk management may be necessary.

NASC has addressed these distinctions in its PAG02:26 guidance concerning the Building Safety Act and scaffolding operations.

What should scaffolding companies do before 1 November 2026?

Although the changes should simplify pre-qualification, businesses should prepare their assessment evidence and internal procedures.

Contractors currently undergoing an assessment should check their assessment body’s instructions. Until Version 6 takes effect, Build UK’s transitional arrangements require relevant competence questions in Section 7 to be answered even where other dutyholder questions do not apply.

Why better compliance management matters for scaffolding businesses

While CAS Version 6 may reduce unnecessary assessment paperwork, it reinforces the value of maintaining reliable company records.

For many scaffolding businesses, the challenge is not necessarily a lack of documentation. It is finding the right information when requested by clients, auditors, principal contractors or inspectors.

Information can become fragmented across spreadsheets, office computers, paper job sheets, emails and employee records. When an assessment is due, this creates avoidable administration and makes it harder to demonstrate that procedures are being followed consistently.

Digital scaffolding management systems can help organise this evidence. For example, ScaffOps™ can support day-to-day record management through connected workflows for:

• Risk assessments and method statements (RAMS)
• Scaffold inspections and site safety records
• Workforce qualifications and training records
• Job scheduling and field documentation
• Digital handovers and completion records via ScaffSafe™
• Project history and operational audit trails

Using one connected system to organise operational evidence can make preparation for contractor assessments more efficient. However, using software does not automatically establish CAS compliance or replace certification by a Recognised Assessment Body.

Will CAS Version 6 make it easier to win scaffolding contracts?

Potentially.

The Common Assessment Standard is increasingly used by principal contractors and clients as a consistent method of assessing supply chain capability. By removing questions that do not apply to certain specialist activities, Version 6 should make the process more proportionate for scaffolding businesses.

For companies seeking work with major housebuilders, commercial contractors, public sector clients and infrastructure organisations, demonstrating organisational competence remains important.

Build UK also allows companies certified by one Recognised Assessment Body to share their assessment data with other recognised bodies, subject to the required permissions. This can increase visibility to prospective customers without requiring the business to repeat the entire certification process.

Nevertheless, certification does not guarantee tender invitations, inclusion on approved supplier lists or contract awards.

Frequently asked questions

Final thoughts: a welcome clarification for the scaffolding industry

The introduction of Common Assessment Standard Version 6 represents a positive development for UK scaffolding contractors.

By recognising the distinction between temporary scaffolding and regulated building work, Build UK is helping ensure that pre-qualification requirements reflect the activities specialist contractors actually perform.

The result should be a more relevant assessment process, without compromising the industry’s expectations around safety, workforce competence or quality management.

For scaffolding companies, the message is straightforward: review your documentation, understand which assessment requirements apply to your business and prepare for the changes ahead of your next certification.

As the construction sector continues to place greater emphasis on demonstrated competence and reliable record keeping, businesses with organised systems and transparent processes will be better positioned to respond to client requirements.