Building Safety Act 2022

Question 1

What are the 5 key parts of the Building Safety Act 2022?

Answer 1

• The safety and standards of all buildings.
• Assuring the safety of higher-risk buildings, both in construction and occupation.
• Improving the competence of the people responsible for overseeing, managing, and delivering works to higher-risk buildings.
• Ensuring clearer standards and guidance.
• Putting residents at the heart of a new system of building safety.

Question 2

Who does the Building Safety Act 2022 apply to?

Answer 2

• Building owners
• Building managers

Those who commission building work:
- Clients

Those who participate in the design and construction process:
- Designers
- Contractors

Question 3

What buildings are subject to the design, refurbishment, and construction requirements under the Building Safety Act 2022?

Answer 3

Applies to:

• new or existing occupied buildings over 18 metres high or seven storeys or more, which contain at least two residential units.
• The design, refurbishment and construction requirements also apply to care homes and hospitals meeting the same height threshold.

Question 4

What are the key goals or objectives of the Building Safety Act 2022?

Answer 4

• Creates a universal change in responsibility and culture within the building industry.
• Establishes a more effective regulatory and responsibility framework for the construction industry and introduces clearer standards and guidance.
• Puts residents at the heart of a new system of Building Safety.
• Clarifies who has responsibility for Fire and Building Safety throughout the life cycle of a higher risk building.

Question 5

What are the two key roles implemented under the Building Safety Act 2022?

Answer 5

• The Building Safety Regulator (BSR)
• The Accountable Person (building owner, freeholder, or management company)

Question 6

What are the three main functions of the Building Safety Regulator (BSR)?

Answer 6

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

Question 7

What are the requirements and responsibilities of the Accountable Person under the Building Safety Act 2022?

Answer 7

• The Accountable Person has an ongoing duty to assess Building Safety risks and provide a Safety Case Report.
• The Safety Case Report should demonstrate how Building Safety risks are being identified, mitigated, and managed on an ongoing basis.
• The Accountable Person must also demonstrate how they are ensuring residents’ safety.
• In some cases, where ownership structures are complex, there may be more than one Accountable Person.
  In these cases, there will be a Principal Accountable Person.

Question 8

When will the Building Safety Act 2022 become law?

Answer 8

• Building owners must register their buildings with the BSR between April and October 2023.
• The Accountable Person(s) or landlord must then apply for a Building Assessment Certificate.
• The application process for the certificate will start in April 2024.
• The certificate will detail the steps taken to prevent building safety risks.

Question 9

What is the gateway process in the Building Safety Act 2022?

Answer 9

As part of the new ‘golden thread’ process, there will now be key ‘gateway points’ during the design and build process where certain fire safety measures must be met before work can continue.

Question 10

What is the definition of a ‘higher-risk building’ under the Building Safety Act?

Answer 10

• is at least 18m in height or has at least 7 storeys; and
• contains at least 2 residential units.