Here to navigate you through the Building Safety Act

The Building Safety Act impacts all building works, not just higher-risk buildings (HRBs). Therefore, even if you aren't work on buildings classified as HRBs, you still need to understand how the act may affect you and your project. 

Under the act, a higher-risk building (HRB) is a building 18m in height or 7 storeys, with at least two residential units. These projects have additional legilsative requirements under the act. 

HRBs must follow a new gateway process, with gateways at planning, construction and occupation. 

A new regulator called the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) have been introduced to oversee the new building safety regime. They sit under the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and will enforce the new Building Safety Act 2022 legislation. 

They will also become the building control authority for higher-risk buildings (HRBs) or appoint somebody competent on their behalf to be the building control authority. 

New building regulations principal designer (BR PD) and contractor (BR PC) roles have been introduced. Clients have a responsibility to appoint competent people to perform these roles on all building works, not just higher-risk buildings.

The BR PD and PC roles are there make sure the design and construction works are compliant with the building regulations.

The duties for the Accountable Person (AP) and Principal Accountable Person (PAP) became law in January 2024.

APs are the people who are legally responsible for repairing the common parts of a building, such as the exterior and structure etc. If there are multiple APs for a building, the AP responsible for repairing the exterior and structure of the building will be recognised as the PAP.