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The Building Safety Act 2022 is a major shift in the building sector, its implementation will set off a chain reaction of changes. However, this is not something to be concerned about. With solid knowledge of the act, we can expect a chain of positive results for everyone involved.
In this blog, we explore the impact of the Building Safety Act on various parties and highlight some of the key changes in the sector.
The Building Safety Act has a broad impact, affecting many people who work on high-risk projects. Here are the main people that the Building Safety Act affects.
Designers have more accountability as they are now duty holders under the Building Safety Act Regulations 2022.
They need to be aware of much more than their role; they must know about relevant legislation and how to store ‘golden thread’ information digitally, which must be easily accessible and incorruptible.
Designers are responsible for ensuring that their designs are included in the Building Safety Case’s detailed documentation, which means designs must be competent and adhere to industry standards. This includes being in line with fire safety regulations and other health and safety regulations, and building regulations.
Designers must ensure that designs don’t contribute to building safety failures, as designers can now be held liable for any safety defects for up to 30 years.
The Grenfell Tower Fire highlighted the importance of materials used in high-rise buildings. This means designers must use non-combustible materials for cladding, facades, and other critical safety elements.
Similar to designers, contractors also have heightened duties. As duty holders, they are responsible for the work they perform on high-rise buildings.
Contractors need to keep accurate records throughout the construction process. This includes the type of materials used, safety measures in place and other information relating to the construction of the building.
Working on construction projects now has stricter approval processes before and during construction. One of these approval processes are gateways.
The Building Safety Act Regulations 2022 create a need to upskill knowledge and for employers to train their workforce. Workers need to understand the documentation of ‘golden thread information’, how to get approval at gateways and how to have overall compliance with these regulations.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is designated as the Building Safety Regulator. They are responsible for overseeing Building Safety in the UK.
The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has a major role to play in the safety of high-rise buildings. They have the power to enforce safety regulations, conduct inspections, and take action against failing to comply.
They are responsible for maintaining the register of HRB (Higher-risk Buildings), which is a publicly accessible record that lists the buildings that are deemed high-risk.
Another duty of the BSR is to ensure the maintenance of the golden thread of information to ensure there’s an up-to-date record of building safety-related information. It’s also a part of the Building Safety Regulator’s responsibilities to review safety case reports.
They must conduct regular checks to identify and address potential risks, particularly in relation to fire safety, structural integrity, and overall building management.
The Building Safety Regulator should know about high-risk buildings to be able to offer unbiased advice without overstepping. If the BSR is happy that the building meets safety standards, a Building Assessment Certificate may be issued.
It is clear that BSRs have lots of duties, so they must have extensive knowledge and be competent in their role.
A client can include developers, landlords and property owners. Clients now have increased accountability for keeping the building safe for residents.
Clients must liaise with the Building Safety Regulator to ensure safety standards are met. They have access to details about the building throughout the construction stage, so they can keep the building healthy throughout the building’s lifecycle.
They are also liable for faulty work under the Defective Premises Act (DPA) for 6 to 15 years. Developers and landlords could be required to cover the costs of repairing unsafe buildings, particularly concerning fire safety.
The Building Safety Act Regulations have a positive impact on residents who reside in high-risk buildings. Residents will now have peace of mind that practices are in place for their safety after the Grenfell Tower Fire tragedy.
Residents will be protected under these regulations, as all potential risks should be removed throughout the design and construction of a building. With the Building Safety Act Regulations, there is increased transparency, which hasn’t been seen before and any concerns from the tenant are taken seriously.
Staying up to date with building safety standards is going to become a regular requirement with duty holders. Ensuring everyone has the necessary training and expertise to meet their legal duties under the Building Safety Act.
The Building Safety Act has been introduced to improve overall construction work on high-rise and high-risk buildings. The main changes include:
It is important to keep your knowledge relevant in line with new industry standards, which is why we have introduced the Building Safety Act Awareness eLearning course to help keep your knowledge relevant in line with new industry standards. If you want to explore this further, we have a complete guide on Building Safety Act awareness.
Overall, the Building Safety Act being in place leads to many benefits for everyone involved, and we should see the great impact these regulations have in the construction sector in the future.
By everyone staying compliant and understanding the Building Safety Act, we can ensure that safety becomes a top priority at every stage of the building process.
This collective effort will lead to safer buildings, better accountability, and enhanced trust within the industry. Additionally, improving the lives of residents and the integrity of our built environment.
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