Building Regulatory Compliance (part time)

Semester 1

Building Regulatory Enforcement

Students will study and research enforcement activities aimed at promoting compliance and reaching regulations outcomes using the tools of inspections by authorised officials and agencies, and enforcement actions. The module explores regulatory design, risk and regulation, enforcement, self-regulation and enforcement and inspections toolkit.

Building Control Legislation, Regulation Policy, and Practice

This module provides students with a working knowledge of Building Control Legislative Framework in Ireland.; the hierarchy and jurisdiction of the Irish court system in the context of the Building Control Acts 1990-2014.   Students will assess different and use of specific areas of law relating to building and construction to promote compliance to ensure health, safety, and welfare of people in or about buildings, conservation of fuel and energy and access for all. 

Economics & the Construction Sector

This module supports participants to develop their economics knowledge to ensure that they can successfully operate in a management capacity in the engineering and construction sector.

Research Methodology

The aim of this module is to prepare participants in the programme for postgraduate research to aid the Dissertation module.

Energy Modelling for nZEB Design

The aim of this module is to provide the knowledge and skill to use dynamic thermal simulation software in the analysis energy consumption of buildings by modification of the building envelope.

Professional Development and Effectiveness

The aim of this module is to prepare the student for successful professional practice and management roles including critical appraisal of their own performance

Semester 2

Building Regulatory Compliance

This is a module outlines the various issues and options concerning promoting regulatory compliance practice and prepares the participants to undertake the business of compliance management.  The module explores regulatory compliance challenges, policy failure and best practices; participants will develop the skills to create and implement effective compliance and audit policies and procedures.

Building Control Management System

The module elevates participants' understanding of current Building Control Management System (BCMS) and future BCMS developments that are having a significant impact on Building Control and building activity in Ireland. Participants will gain specialised knowledge and skill in the demonstration of building control administrative compliance process and technology.

ICT for Construction

The aim of this module to elevate the participants' understanding of current and future ICT developments that are having a significant impact on the engineering and construction sector, with specific emphasis on the issues (technology, people & processes) associated with the implementation of BIM.

Energy Modelling for HVAC Systems & Controls

The aim of this module is to provide the student with the knowledge and skill to use dynamic thermal simulation software for the generation of building energy ratings of commercial buildings and analysis of building energy consumption by modification of the building envelope, plant, systems, and controls.

Lean Enterprise Thinking & Practice

This module develops students' understanding and application of core Lean management, thinking and practices, as well as Lean in construction.  The module explores the requisite elements for an organisation to enable and sustain process, operational and enterprise excellence. Students will examine Lean holistically and systemically across the broader organisational setting and business sectors.

Building Energy Performance & Analysis

The aim of this module is to provide specialised knowledge of the investigation and diagnosis of defects in buildings and their remedies particularly defects in relation to energy consumption.

Semester 3

Dissertation

This is a significant module that concerns the completion of an individual Dissertation/Research Project on a topic of the participant's choosing. This topic may relate specifically to their current employment (for those undertaking the programme/module on a part-time basis) or to a relevant topic that will assist in the professional development of the individual.

• Applicants for this programme should hold a NFQ Level 8 Honours degree with a minimum of Honours 2.2 in a  cognate discipline.
• Cognate discipline areas of study include: civil engineering, construction studies, construction management, architecture, architectural technology, building services, building surveying, quantity surveying, energy engineering, energy management, building physics, physical and chemical sciences, health and safety, fire management, fire systems, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, manufacturing engineering, process engineering, electronic engineering, systems engineering.

OR

• have a non-cognate NQF Level 8 degree with a minimum of Honours 2.2 together with a minimum of 5 years relevant industrial experience in a cognate area.

Entry to the programme may also be allowed via the Institute’s Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process on an individual case-by-case basis. This RPL process includes the matching of the candidate’s prior learning (education and experiential) with the equivalent Level 8 programme outcomes.

Eligible applicants must at least meet the minimum English language requirements for the Institute as detailed in the Quality Manual.

All applications should be made via the online facility at www.pac.ie.

Graduates of this programme will have the opportunity to advance their careers in the area of building control and product regulation. This is particularly relevant to architects, architectural technologists, engineers, planners, building control officers, surveyors where the implications of building control have the biggest impact.

The programme offers and opportunity for students without a formal building control qualifications and experience to gain employment in several areas of the construction industry where promoting a culture of compliance with the building and construction products regulations is important. These include:

• Designers
• Quality Assurance and Control Managers
• BCAR Managers
• Assigned Certifiers
• Building Control Officers
• Health and Safety Specialists
• Sustainability Officers. 

Part-time over two years

The part-time programme has been designed primarily to suit those who are in employment and who wish to gain the MScBRC qualification while continuing to work. Attendance at SETU Waterford is normally required for 16 days per year in 8 x 2 day sessions (Thursday, Friday and some Saturdays). Applicants should apply for SE71V through the PAC application system.

There is significant use of the Institute’s online Learning Management System on this programme.

Full-time over one year

The full-time programme is of interest to recent graduates as well as others who are returning to higher education in order to improve their skills and employment prospects. The full-time version of the MScBRC involves approximately 12 hours of class contact per week in each of the first 2 semesters (S1: September to December and S2: January to May).

These classes are typically held on Thursday, Fridays and some Saturdays. The third semester (S3: May to September) is used to complete the Research Dissertation/Thesis.

Applicants should apply for SE71T through the PAC application system.

There is significant use of the Institute’s online Learning Management System on this programme.