The Building Safety Act

Question 1

What is the Building Safety Act 2022?

Answer 1

[Now] the government’s main vehicle for reforming building regulations in England.
Its provisions are intended to address the problems identified by the Hackitt review [independent review of Building Regulations and in particular their impact on Fire Safety]

Question 2

What are the outcomes of the Act?

Answer 2

Created a new body, the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) within the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Established a new regulatory regime for higher-risk buildings, that is, buildings that are 18 or more metres in height or have seven or more storeys and contains 2 or more residential units or is a hospital or care home

Their design and construction will be overseen by the BSR.

During occupation, building safety risks in higher-risk blocks of flats will be assessed and managed by the ‘accountable person’.

Created accountability for clients, designers, and contractors in the construction process.

Strengthened the powers of local authorities to deal with violations of building regulations.

Aligned standards for public-sector and private-sector bodies and subjected both to oversight by the BSR.

Question 3

Who is affected by the Building Safety Act 2022?

Answer 3

Designers have new duties under the regulations (even if your building is not an HRB)
Clients have new duties under the regulations (even if their building is not an HRB)

These new duties will require proactive actions by Designers and Project Leads

Question 4

Summary of the Key Points? (Ridge Summary)

Answer 4

Regulatory Definitions:
Building Safety Regulator - the HSE is the new BSR in England overseeing the safety and performance of all buildings (with a special focus on high-rise) ALL BUILDINGS
-Building Safety Act (BSA 2022) - Major revision to the Building Act 2024. Creates a BSR responsible for regulation of ALL buildings. ALL BUILDINGS
Higher Risk Buildings or Buildings in Scope - Act does not specifically refer to Higher Risk Buildings. New BSA regime includes strengthene regulations for higher risk buildings - to improve accountability, risk-management and assurance.

Higher Risk Buildings:
Higher Risk Building Definition-Min 18m high or 7 storeys
-Contains at least 2 residential units
- Residential Higher Risk Buildings will require safety case processes and regular safety case reports - they will need to be approved for occupation regularly
Accountable Person (AP):
All occupied residential high-rise buildigns need an AP (or organisation):
-legally responsible for ensuring fire and structural safety properly managed
-identify themselves to the BSR before a HRB is occupied
Storing Building Information: The Golden Thread:
-A tool for owners to understand their buildings and the steps needed to keep people safe.
-Information management to ensure the information is accurate, easy to understand, accessible and up to date

Duty Holders: ALL BUILDINGS
Duty Holders Definition:
-BSA requires duty holders to work together to plan, manage, and monitor the design and building work and have systems in place to ensure that all building and design work complies with relevant building regulations
Clients:
-Clients have new statutory duties to take all responsible steps to assure that those they appoint to work on a project are competent to do that work
Principal Contractor/Designer:
- A principal contractor appointed to be in control of the whole project during the construction phase.
-A principal designer is appointed to be in control of all design work