Structural terms

SER Certificate

An SER certificate is a Scottish certificate confirming that the structural design covered by it complies with the applicable building standards, issued through the approved structural certification scheme.

SER refers to Structural Engineers Registration Ltd, which provides the Scottish Scheme for Certification of Design (Building Structures). An Approved Certifier of Design reviews the structural design and supporting information before certifying the relevant work for a building warrant application.

Certification can provide the verifier with an accepted route for the certified structural aspects, but it does not replace the building warrant or cover unrelated parts of the design. The Scottish Government's guidance on verification and certification explains the wider role of approved certifiers within Scotland's building standards system.

The project team should establish early whether an SER certificate will be used and ensure that architectural and structural information remains coordinated when changes are made. Where changes affect certified structural work, SER guidance explains that a new certificate may be required as part of an amendment to the building warrant.

Property types

Commonly found in

Tenement Georgian Townhouse Victorian Villa Terraced House Traditional Cottage Georgian Flat Converted Flat Detached House Semi-detached House

Building glossary

Related building terms

Planning Permission Planning Application Planning Drawings Building Standards

More ways we can help

BUILDING & RENOVATION SERVICES IN EDINBURGH

From full property renovations and structural alterations to kitchen and bathroom installations, loft conversions and bespoke joinery, explore our building services across Edinburgh. Every project is personally managed by Martin Johnstone, coordinating the specialist trades involved from start to finish.