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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 a Building Regulations Principal Designer?
A Building Regulations Principal Designer is the designer appointed to be in control of the design work for the purposes of the Building Regulations.
The Principal Designer must plan, manage, monitor and coordinate the design work, taking reasonable steps to ensure that designers fulfil their duties and that the design, if built, complies with the relevant requirements of the Building Regulations.
For higher-risk building projects, additional duties apply throughout the design and construction process.
When do I need to appoint a Building Regulations Principal Designer?
Where more than one designer or contractor is working on a project, the client must appoint a Principal Designer and Principal Contractor in writing. If there is only one designer, that designer fulfils the Principal Designer role.
For higher-risk building work, the client must also take reasonable steps to ensure that the person or organisation appointed has the necessary competence and organisational capability for the specific project.
Appointing the Principal Designer early allows them to influence design coordination, compliance planning and the information required for the Building Safety Regulator.
What does a Principal Designer do on a higher-risk building project?
On a higher-risk building project, the Building Regulations Principal Designer plans, manages, monitors and coordinates design work to support compliance with the Building Regulations.
Their responsibilities include coordinating designers, reviewing design information, monitoring Building Regulations compliance, cooperating with the Principal Contractor, managing design-related information, maintaining relevant Golden Thread information and fulfilling the additional duties that apply to higher-risk building work.
What is the difference between a Building Regulations Principal Designer and a CDM Principal Designer?
The two roles have different statutory purposes.
A Building Regulations Principal Designer is responsible for managing and coordinating design work in relation to compliance with the Building Regulations.
A CDM Principal Designer performs duties under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 and focuses on managing health and safety risks arising from the design process.
The roles can be carried out by the same organisation where it has the appropriate competence, but the client must clearly confirm the appointments and the organisation must be capable of fulfilling the duties of both roles.
What is the Principal Designer's role in change control?
Design changes on a higher-risk building project must be properly assessed, recorded and managed through the project's change control arrangements.
The Principal Designer helps coordinate the design team, assesses the Building Regulations implications of changes and ensures that relevant design information remains accurate and up to date.
Where a proposed change is classed as notifiable or major under the higher-risk building procedures, the appropriate Building Safety Regulator notification or approval process must be followed before the change is implemented where required.
What is the Principal Designer's responsibility for the Golden Thread?
For higher-risk building work, the Principal Designer must capture and keep relevant design information up to date as part of the Golden Thread.
They must work with the Principal Contractor to ensure design information created or changed during construction is recorded and evidenced, and share relevant information with the client and other dutyholders when required.
The Golden Thread should provide an accurate, accessible and up-to-date record of the building and how compliance is being achieved.
How can BSAC support us as Building Regulations Principal Designer?
BSAC can provide Building Regulations Principal Designer support for higher-risk building projects from design and Gateway 2 through construction, change control and Gateway 3.
Our services can include design compliance coordination, review of design information, Building Regulations compliance monitoring, change control, Building Safety Regulator liaison, Golden Thread information management and support with mandatory occurrence reporting.
We work with clients, designers and Principal Contractors to help maintain a coordinated and evidenced approach to Building Regulations compliance throughout the project.
