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Building Regulations Principal Designer support for non-higher-risk building projects
As your appointed Building Regulations Principal Designer (BRPD), we plan, manage, monitor and coordinate design matters during the design and construction phase, helping ensure that the work continues to comply with the relevant Building Regulations.
Design and Construction Management
During the projects lifecycle, we coordinate your design and construction teams to maintain strict regulatory alignment.
For further information on Building Regulations Principal Designer support?
Get in touchOur core construction-phase services include:
Confirm the project's status as a non-higher-risk building where applicable and determine the Building Control Body for this project
Monitor design changes, variations or substitutions proposed during construction, assess whether such changes affect Building Regulations compliance, and coordinate any resulting notification or resubmission to the Building Control Body.
Coordinate with the Client, Principal Contractor, design team and Building Control Body to manage the inspections and compliance checks required during construction, including:
- notice of commencement and key-stage notifications to the Building Control Body (for example foundations, damp-proofing, drainage and occupation, as applicable);
- review of as-built information and test certificates (for example air tightness, sound insulation, drainage and energy performance) against the approved design;
- review of any variations, substitutions or value-engineering changes for their effect on Building Regulations compliance; and
- coordination of specialist commissioning certificates (for example fire alarm, ventilation, electrical and gas installations) required to support completion.
Support the Principal Contractor in maintaining evidence of its own competence and Building Regulations compliance obligations during construction and support the Client in confirming its own duty holder obligations.
Support the Client with construction-stage record keeping, including inspection records, test certificates, commissioning information and as-built documentation required to demonstrate Building Regulations compliance and support completion.
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We provide complete peace of mind by delivering the finalised application package, signed compliance declarations, and a complete statutory record ready for registration.
Need expert management of your Building Regulations compliance and completion certificates? Contact us today for a consultation.
What does a Building Regulations Principal Designer do?
A Building Regulations Principal Designer plans, manages, monitors and coordinates design work to help ensure that the project complies with relevant Building Regulations.
They coordinate designers, review design information, address compliance issues and work with the client and Principal Contractor throughout the project.
- Coordinate designers and design information
- Monitor design compliance
- Review design changes
- Coordinate with the Principal Contractor
- Support the Client with Building Regulations duties
- Maintain appropriate compliance evidence
- Support completion and handover
What is the difference between HRB and non-HRB projects?
| Non-HRB | HRB |
|---|---|
| Building Regulations dutyholder regime applies | Building Regulations duties + additional HRB regime |
| Building control through local authority or registered building control approver | BSR generally acts as building control authority |
| No HRB Gateway 2/3 process | BSR Gateway 2 and Gateway 3 requirements |
| No HRB-specific MOR regime | Mandatory occurrence reporting applies |
| Standard Building Regulations compliance | Additional HRB requirements |
Faq
Do I need a Building Regulations Principal Designer for a non-higher-risk building?
Yes, the Building Regulations dutyholder requirements are not limited to higher-risk buildings.
Where a project involves more than one designer, the client must appoint a Principal Designer in writing. Where there is only one designer working on the project, that designer fulfils the Principal Designer role.
The Principal Designer must have the appropriate competence to undertake the role for the particular project.
What does a Principal Designer do on a non-HRB project?
The Building Regulations Principal Designer plans, manages, monitors and coordinates design work to help ensure that the project complies with the relevant Building Regulations.
This can include coordinating designers, reviewing design information, identifying compliance issues, considering interactions between different design disciplines, working with the Principal Contractor and supporting the client in maintaining appropriate evidence of Building Regulations compliance.
Who provides building control approval for a non-HRB project?
For most building work that is not higher-risk building work, building control can be provided by a local authority building control department or a private registered building control approver.
The appropriate building control route will depend on the project and type of work being undertaken.
The Building Safety Regulator is the building control authority for higher-risk building work, whereas the standard building control routes generally continue to apply to non-HRB projects.
Does the Golden Thread apply to non-HRB projects?
The statutory Golden Thread requirements established specifically for higher-risk buildings do not apply to ordinary non-HRB projects in the same way.
However, appropriate design, construction and compliance information should still be maintained throughout a non-HRB project.
Good record keeping can help demonstrate Building Regulations compliance, support building control inspections and provide the information required for completion and handover.
How should design changes be managed on a non-HRB project?
Design changes should be reviewed to determine whether they affect compliance with the Building Regulations.
The Principal Designer should coordinate relevant designers, assess the implications of proposed changes and ensure that updated design information is communicated to the Principal Contractor, client and building control body where appropriate.
Non-HRB projects do not follow the HRB-specific major and notifiable change control regime, but changes still need to be properly assessed and managed to maintain Building Regulations compliance.
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.
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.
