Verification v validation
BS EN 9145, 2018, Aerospace series - Requirements for advanced product quality planning and production part approval process, published by the British Standards Institution suggests that validation is: ‘Assurance that a product, service, or system fulfils the needs of the customer and other identified stakeholders. It often involves acceptance with external customers.’
Construction Quality Planning Guide, Draft for Consultation, Published by the Construction Innovation Hub in May 2020, suggests that simply put, validation implies: ‘Are we building the right thing?’
Conversely, BS EN 9145 suggests that verification is “Confirmation by examination and provision of objective evidence that the specified requirements have been fulfilled.”
Construction Quality Planning Guide, Draft for Consultation, suggests that, simply put, verification implies: ‘Are we building it right?’
BSI Flex 8670 V3.0, Built environment – Core criteria for building safety in competence frameworks – Code of practice, April 2021 Version 3, published by The British Standards Institution in 2021, defines validation as a: ‘formal process of assessing an individual’s competence against a sector-specific competence framework.’
Government Functional Standard, GovS 002: Project delivery; portfolio, programme and project management, Version: 2.0, published on 15 July 2021 by HM Government, defines validation as: ‘An activity that ensures a solution (or part of) meets the needs of the business. Validation ensures that business requirements are met even though these might have changed since the original design.’ It defines verification as: 'An activity that ensures that a solution (or part of) is complete, accurate, reliable and matches its design specification.'
BG 81/2022, Soft Landings for Fit-Outs, written by Kieran Everett and James Gall and published by BSRIA in June 2022, defines validation as: ‘A physical review of the existing conditions of the space and associated services against the proposed design data.’
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Advanced product quality planning.
- Construction Innovation Hub.
- Construction product approval process.
- Construction quality planning.
- Lessons learnt.
- Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA).
- Product design requirements.
- Product validation.
- Production readiness review.
- Project quality plan.
- Qualifying Explanatory Statement QES.
- Quality.
- Revalidation.
Featured articles and news
A change to adoptive architecture
Effects of global weather warming on architectural detailing, material choice and human interaction.
How big is the problem and what can we do to mitigate the effects?
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
A number of cool guides to help with the heat.
The UK's Modern Industrial Strategy: A 10 year plan
Previous consultation criticism, current key elements and general support with some persisting reservations.
Building Safety Regulator reforms
New roles, new staff and a new fast track service pave the way for a single construction regulator.
Architectural Technologist CPDs and Communications
CIAT CPD… and how you can do it!
Cooling centres and cool spaces
Managing extreme heat in cities by directing the public to places for heat stress relief and water sources.
Winter gardens: A brief history and warm variations
Extending the season with glass in different forms and terms.
Restoring Great Yarmouth's Winter Gardens
Transforming one of the least sustainable constructions imaginable.
Construction Skills Mission Board launch sector drive
Newly formed government and industry collaboration set strategy for recruiting an additional 100,000 construction workers a year.
New Architects Code comes into effect in September 2025
ARB Architects Code of Conduct and Practice available with ongoing consultation regarding guidance.
Welsh Skills Body (Medr) launches ambitious plan
The new skills body brings together funding and regulation of tertiary education and research for the devolved nation.
Paul Gandy FCIOB announced as next CIOB President
Former Tilbury Douglas CEO takes helm.
UK Infrastructure: A 10 Year Strategy. In brief with reactions
With the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA).
Ebenezer Howard: inventor of the garden city. Book review.
Airtightness Topic Guide BSRIA TG 27/2025
Explaining the basics of airtightness, what it is, why it's important, when it's required and how it's carried out.