The Building Safety Act (BSA) aims to improve building safety standards in the construction industry. Accountability is enhanced by taking careful consideration in the design, construction, and maintenance of buildings, in particular the buildings that are classified as higher-risk structures (minimum of 7 storeys or minimum height of 18 meters and must be a hospital or care facility or contain at least 2 residential units). Longstanding issues linked to building safety of a structure’s life cycle will be addressed in this legislation.
Responsibilities Under the BSA
It is vital to adhere to best practice when carrying out duty holder responsibilities and ensure everyone throughout the supply chain are committed to fulfill their obligations, in accordance with the Building Safety Act secondary legislation.
Role Of The Client:
> Suitable planning, managing, and monitoring arrangements
> A principal designer and principal contractor will be required if multiple entities are involved on a project
> Building information to be provided to all contractors and designers working on a project
> Determine whether the work is linked to an existing building or proposed higher-risk building
> Address any issues that have been identified if a sanction has been levelled against a principal contractor or principal designer in the last 5 years
Role Of Principal Contractors:
> During the construction phase, building work will need to be planned, managed, and monitored
> To ensure construction work compliance with relevant requirements, building matters should be coordinated
> Cooperation with the client, principal designer, and principal contractor
> Aid the client to provide information to other contractors and designers if requested
> Provide a document explaining how these duties were fulfilled within 28 days after their appointment has ended
Role Of Principal Designers:
> Make certain design work complies with building regulations, if built, by cooperating, coordinating, and communicating with duty holders
> Share information that is relevant to planning, management, and monitoring with the principal contractor to ensure compliance with requirements
> Assist the client to provide information to other contractors and designers
> Provide a document explaining how these duties were fulfilled within 28 days after their appointment has ended
> Previous arrangements must be reviewed if a replacement principal designer is hired
BSA Assessments
The BSA Assessments cover 2 areas – standard construction and high-risk buildings/trades, that encompass construction industry question sets as well as, specific BSA queries. The assessment process is streamlined as a result of this approach, that ensures alignment with BSA standards. Credentials will be easily shown to buyers and principal contractors by completing these assessments; less time and effort is spent on demonstrating compliance, while increasing your chances of winning more business. [1]
How Can WSPCC Help?
At WPS Compliance Consulting we provide a wide range of compliance services, covering:
> BREEAM/ Construction Consultancy
> Environmental Consultancy
> Planning Services
> Training and Development Services
Also, we have developed a software tool called SitePlan that enables clients to be self-sufficient and manage their own waste and environmental data.
Call us NOW on 01604 859961, or email [email protected] to ask our advice / guidance.
[1] Constructiononline. (2024). Navigating the Building Safety Act. [ONLINE]. Available at: https://www.constructionline.co.uk/navigating-the-building-safety-act/?mkt_tok=MjU0LUtDVC0zMzQAAAGSr5rV-w8rAnc3ubEYPZ8GN2cwYbuxkBxsbtO6mi3C02tGT55Zj1bNGsZcgzInyYCgL54WLq4u2Nks1Pr5u5dG9QyKx5ciEyiIuOepKgSu1N03.
