Building Safety Act 2022

Question 1

What is the Building Safety Act 2022

Answer 1

New Government Bill that gained Royal Assent 28th April 2022- new requirements expected April 2023.

Question 2

What is the Building Safety Act 2022

Answer 2

1) New, more stringent regulatory regime for England.
2) Introduced the Building Safety Regulator established in HSE.
3) New construction products regime regulated by new Construction Products Regulator.
- Government response to Dame Judith Hackett

Question 3

What was the Dame Judith Hackett report

Answer 3

Addresses the need for regulatory change, and proposes solutions to the gaps in UK building regulations which followed Grenfell.

Question 4

What were the key findings of the Dame Judith Hackett report:

Answer 4

Over 50 recommendations covering:
-a new, more robust regulatory framework

• the establishment of a Joint Competent Authority (“JCA”) to oversee the management of safety risks- Local Authority Building Standards, fire and rescue authorities and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to oversee management of safety risks in higher risk residential buildings (HRRB) across their entire life cycle
• a rigorous set of roles and responsibilities for duty holders
• an improved focus and accountability on building safety from procurement, design and construction through to occupation of the buildings, and
• reasserting the role and voice of residents.

Question 5

What is the The Building Safety Regulator (BSR):

Answer 5

1) overseeing the safety and standards of all buildings
2) helping and encouraging the built environment industry and building control professionals to improve their competence
3) leading implementation of the new regulatory framework for high-rise buildings

Question 6

What Buildings we’ll the BSR regulate?

Answer 6

BSR will regulate high-rise buildings. These are buildings with 7 or more storeys or that are 18 metres or higher, and either:

1. have at least 2 residential units
2. are hospitals or care homes (during design and construction)

Question 7

What does the new Building Safety Reforms bring in the form of regulatory frameworks?

Answer 7

 HSE is a statutory consultee for planning applications
 BSR will become the building control authority for high-rise buildings
 decision points during design and construction
 giving dutyholders clear accountability and statutory responsibilities as buildings are designed, built, refurbished and occupied
 a golden thread of building information - identified, stored and updated throughout the building’s life cycle
 mandatory reporting of prescribed fire and structural safety occurrences to BSR
There will also be registers of:
 occupied high-rise buildings
 building inspectors and building control approvers

Question 8

What is meant by the Enforcement approach of the Building Safety Regulator?

Answer 8

BSR will:
 exercise its powers in line with regulatory best practice
 take a consistent and proportionate approach
 target enforcement activity at cases where action is needed
 work closely with existing regulators such as local authorities and fire and rescue authorities

Question 9

What are the three commitees that the BSR must establish?

Answer 9

 Residents’ Panel
 Industry Competence Committee
 Building Advisory Committee