Guides / Roles

Designer and checker independence

A design check only means something if the checker has not marked their own homework.

The idea

The more complex or risky the temporary works, the more independent the checker needs to be from the designer. For simple, standard items the check can be simple. For complex ones, the checker should not have been involved in the design at all, and for the most demanding ones the check may need to be done by a separate organisation.

Why it matters

If the person who designed something also checks it, the same blind spots can pass straight through. Independence is how mistakes get caught.

Be careful with the detail

The exact level of independence for each design check category is set out in BS 5975-1:2024. [Technical reviewer to confirm wording against the standard before launch.]