Hundreds of people including international guests will use the uncompleted new Berkeley Institute starting today despite the building not yet receiving a full safety all-clear.

Work on the $125 million secondary school has not been completed and, as of yesterday, no Certificate of Completion and Occupancy had been issued.

But a three-day Multi-Addiction Conference, which is open to the public and includes overseas guest speakers, is due to begins at the school this morning.

Safety aspects of the incomplete building including electrics, fire-proofing and structural integrity have been called into question by former site superintendent Gabriel Martel in recent weeks.

Government Finance Minister Paula Cox has confirmed there are ?deficiencies? at the school that are being addressed.

But the Ministry of Health and Family Services? second multi-addiction conference is going ahead. Permanent health secretary Kevin Monkman said areas of the school being used to host the conference had been passed as safe by the relevant authorities.

But that assurance is being questioned by Shadow Works and Engineering Minister Jon Brunson, who has pointed out the building only has a certificate of substantial completion that does not give authorisation for it to be occupied or host events.

This is backed up by the most recent entry on the Berkeley planning file by senior building inspector Blake Lambert who issued the partial certificate.

On December 29 he noted on the file: ?The site is satisfactory for tenant fit out. (I am) informed students will not be occupying probably until September. Therefore I have no objection for furniture and tenant fit-out to occur.?

Mr. Brunson said: ?What this means is that any event held on the premises is in violation of the Department of Planning regulations and codes.

?Planning records clearly state that before the Certificate of Completion and Occupancy can be issued a final walk through with the Fire Department, Health Department and Works and Engineering must occur and confirmation that has been done must be received.

?As of midday yesterday no such confirmation has been received. As a result, the school is not fit to be occupied by students.?

He added: ?Key players in the Department of Planning have confirmed that also extends to hosting events as well. The reason for this degree of caution is because safety is always their priority, which means they will not give access because they are not certain that the facility is safe to be occupied.?

Works and Engineering Minister Sen. David Burch has dismissed the claims of former site superintendent Gabriel Martel as being those of a ?disgruntled ex-employee? and said the workmanship at the project is being closely monitored.

For a number of days has been seeking clarification from the Works and Engineering Ministry regarding the status of the building as far as hosting public events in light of the fact it does not yet have its final certificate for occupancy. We were still awaiting a reply last night.

The Second Multi-Addiction Conference starts with pre-conference workshops from 9 a.m. today and will be officially opened at 6 p.m. this evening.

The conference will look at various aspects of substance abuse, and includes US police gang expert Sgt. Delacey Davis as one of the guest speakers.

Addictions from drugs to alcohol, sex and the effects of stress and trauma are slated to be discussed during the conference which concludes on Friday afternoon.