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
Deputy editor of AT, Tim Fraser, discusses the newly formed society with its current chair, Chris Halligan MCIAT.
Barratt Lo-E passivhaus standard homes planned enmasse
With an initial 728 Lo-E homes across two sites and many more planned for the future.
Government urged to uphold Warm Homes commitment
ECA and industry bodies write to Government concerning its 13.2 billion Warm Homes manifesto commitment.
Places of Worship in Britain and Ireland, 1929-1990. Book review.
The emancipation of women in art.
CIOB Construction Manager of the Year 2025
Just one of the winners at the CIOB Awards 2025.
Call for independent National Grenfell oversight mechanism
MHCLG share findings of Building Safety Inquiry in letter to Secretary of State and Minister for Building Safety.
The Architectural Technology Awards
AT Awards now open for this the sixth decade of CIAT.
50th Golden anniversary ECA Edmundson awards
Deadline for submissions Friday 30 May 2025.
The benefits of precast, off-site foundation systems
Top ten benefits of this notable innovation.
Encouraging individuals to take action saving water at home, work, and in their communities.
Takes a community to support mental health and wellbeing
The why of becoming a Mental Health Instructor explained.
Mental health awareness week 13-18 May
The theme is communities, they can provide a sense of belonging, safety, support in hard times, and a sense purpose.
Mental health support on the rise but workers still struggling
CIOB Understanding Mental Health in the Built Environment 2025 shows.
Design and construction material libraries
Material, sample, product or detail libraries a key component of any architectural design practice.
Construction Products Reform Green Paper and Consultation
Still time to respond as consultation closes on 21 May 2025.
Resilient façade systems for smog reduction in Shanghai
A technical approach using computer simulation and analysis of solar radiation, wind patterns, and ventilation.