CIBSE Members Mandated To Focus Learning On Building Safety And Sustainability

A man studying for a test The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) has introduced mandatory CPD topics for its members. From January 2024, in addition to their existing CPD requirements, members must undertake and reflect on at least two CPD activities, one on sustainability and one on building safety.

This change is to ensure CIBSE members stay up to date on key industry issues. It is being driven by two factors: the government’s target to reach net zero by 2050 and the introduction, in April 2022, of the Building Safety Act.

A key element of the requirement is the call for its members to reflect on their learnings. They are being asked not only to learn themselves but to extend their development by sharing that knowledge with others.

Stephen Page MCIBSE, AtkinsRéalis, CPD Panel Chair comments: “Mandating CPD on these two key issues will help ensure building services engineers stay informed on the latest technology and techniques in building safety and sustainability and can apply that knowledge in their daily working lives.

“In requiring our members to reflect on these mandatory topics we are asking them to consider how they can pass on their learning. The act of reflecting their new knowledge back to others makes it more likely they will absorb those learnings, in addition to helping others develop.”



CIBSE’s mandatory CPD take the form of semi‑structured activities to allow flexibility around individual development objectives. They can be carried out under many guises such as supplier webinars, videos, mentoring and CIBSE events and training courses. The CIBSE Knowledge Portal and the CIBSE CPD Directory also offer a bank of resources to which members have free access.

CIBSE members are required to maintain a log of their continuing professional development activities, which must include details on how they pass on their learnings to others. To verify compliance, individual members are selected at random and their logs audited by a panel of members.

This step from CIBSE will help ensure building services engineers deliver more efficient, safer building designs. This will not only improve engineers’ competence, but will also be beneficial to their clients and, ultimately, the future occupants of the buildings they design.

CIBSE Members Mandated To Focus Learning On Building Safety And Sustainability