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Building Regulations Principal Designer Services for Higher-Risk Buildings (HRB)
Building Safety Act Consult provides Building Regulations Principal Designer services for higher-risk building (HRB) projects, helping clients and project teams plan, manage and monitor design work to ensure compliance with Building Regulations.
Our Building Regulations Principal Designer consultancy supports projects from design and Gateway 2 through construction, change control and Gateway 3, working closely with clients, designers, principal contractors and the Building Safety Regulator (BSR).
We provide independent regulatory coordination, compliance monitoring, change control, mandatory occurrence reporting support and Golden Thread information management throughout the construction phase.
Construction Phase Management (Gateway 2 to 3)
From Gateway 2 building control approval through the construction phase and Gateway 3 completion process.
During the build, we coordinate your design and construction teams to maintain strict regulatory alignment.
- Compliance documentation
- Design information
- Design compliance monitoring (Plan, manage and monitor design work)
- Building Regulations compliance statement
- Coordination with the client
- BSR submission/support
For further information on Building Regulations Principal Designer support?
Get in touchOur core construction-phase services include:
Regulatory Coordination
Overseeing ongoing Building Regulations compliance as your designs are finalised and constructed.
- Plan and coordinate design compliance
- Review design information
- Coordinate designers
- Monitor compliance
- Record decisions and evidence
Rigorous Change Control
Categorising design modifications as "major" or "notifiable," and securing the necessary BSR approvals prior to implementation.
- Major changes
- Notifiable changes
- Change control procedures
- BSR approval/notification requirements
- Updating design information
Active BSR Liaison
Acting as your primary point of contact for the Regulator, managing information requests and supporting on-site inspections.
Golden Thread Maintenance
Continuously updating the Golden Thread of information to accurately reflect design changes and construction progress.
Mandatory Reporting
Supporting the Client and Principal Contractor with design-related mandatory occurrence reporting. Establishing and operating the mandatory occurrence reporting system required for higher-risk building work, including supporting the reporting of relevant safety occurrences to the Building Safety Regulator.
Contact BSAC
We provide complete peace of mind by delivering the finalised application package, signed compliance declarations, and a complete statutory record ready for registration.
Are you approaching Gateway 2 or managing an active construction phase that requires Building Regulations Principal Designer support? Speak to BSAC about your project requirements.
CDM Principal Designer and a Building Regulations Principal Designer
What is the difference between a CDM Principal Designer and a Building Regulations Principal Designer?
| Building Regulations Principal Designer | CDM Principal Designer |
|---|---|
| Building Regulations 2010 / Building Safety Act regime | CDM Regulations 2015 |
| Focuses on compliance with Building Regulations | Focuses on health and safety |
| Coordinates design compliance | Coordinates health and safety during design |
| Additional duties apply to HRB work | Applies where CDM criteria are met |
| Works with BSR on HRB projects | Works within the CDM regulatory framework |
The Building Regulations Principal Designer and CDM Principal Designer are separate statutory roles. They can be undertaken by the same organisation where the appropriate competence exists, but they have different duties and competency requirements.
To find our more about how BSAC can help please get in touch.
What does a Building Regulations Principal Designer do?
A Building Regulations Principal Designer plans, manages and monitors design work to ensure that, if the building work is carried out in accordance with the design, it will comply with relevant Building Regulations.
They coordinate the design team, cooperate with other dutyholders and help ensure that compliance is properly evidenced throughout the project.
A Building Regulations Principal Designer is responsible for:
- Planning, managing and monitoring design work
- Coordinating designers and design information
- Taking reasonable steps to ensure designs comply with Building Regulations
- Coordinating with the client and Principal Contractor
- Managing design changes and compliance information
- Supporting the maintenance of the Golden Thread
- Meeting additional duties for higher-risk building work
This is closely aligned with BSR's description of Principal Designer duties.
Faq
What is the Building Safety Act 2022?
The Building Safety Act 2022 received Royal Assent on 28 April 2022 and makes ground-breaking reforms to give residents and homeowners more rights, powers, and protections – so homes across the country are safer. The Building Safety Act 2022 will bring in several measures intended to make buildings safer. The Act is divided into six parts (see below) with the majority of the substantive detail and reforms set out in parts two to five.
Part 1: Introduction
Part 2: The Regulator and its Functions
Part 3: Building Act 1984
Part 4: Higher-Risk Buildings
Part 5: Other Provision about Safety, Standards, etc.
Part 6: General
What is the definition of a higher-risk building (HRB)?
A higher-risk building (HRB) is a building in England that: is at least 18 metres high or has at least 7 storeys; and contains at least 2 residential units, or is a hospital or care home. The exact criteria can vary depending on the type of building and work being carried out, so the current Building Safety Regulator guidance should be checked for each project.
The Building Safety Regulator provides further criteria for determining whether a building is a higher-risk building.
