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The industry body said the harsh approach emerged due to “confusion” over changes to building regulations.
Amendments following last year’s Grenfell Act require notified bodies to ensure that anyone appointed to carry out any construction “or design work” can carry out certain duties in the “planning, management and supervision” of the work.
CIC said there was “some confusion among designers and principal designers in providing proof of competency”.
It added: “There is no provision requiring them to obtain a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card to demonstrate this.
“The CSCS card is issued based on competency in construction-related tasks and does not provide evidence of ability to serve as a designer or principal designer.”
The CIC said the Construction Leadership Council (CLC), co-chaired by government and industry, had “made it clear” that designers and principal designers would not need CSCS cards to access sites.
It added that the confusion was partly caused by some main contractors deviating from CLC advice and insisting that anyone entering their sites must have a CSCS card.
AJ understands that some organizations have been denying access to sites to anyone without a card.
The CIC said appropriate evidence that an architect is competent in their duties includes professional registration with an appropriate body such as the Architects Registration Board (ARB), and evidence of completion of a welfare assessment such as RIBA health and safety testing.
Paul Bussey, chairman of its health and safety committee, said the clarification was “long awaited”.
He emphasized: “For site access, all that is required is membership of a recognized professional designer organization, including sufficient evidence of health and safety knowledge.”
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