Building Safety Act

Question 1

What is the Building Safety Act 2022?

Answer 1

A major piece of legislation introduced in response to the Grenfell Tower disaster. It aims to improve building safety standards, increase accountability, and protect residents and leaseholders, particularly in HRBs

Question 2

What is a High-Risk Building

Answer 2

Any building over 18m (or 7 storeys) and at least 2 residential units

Question 3

Key aspects of the Building Safety Act

Answer 3

• HRBs must be registered with the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) before they are occupied
• Gateway approach is used for HRBs, meaning all building works are subject to the control of the BSR
• Golden Thread approach. The Act mandates a golden thread of information and information handover between duty holders.

Question 4

Principal Designer CDM or BSA?

Answer 4

Under the Building Safety Act, the role of Principal Designer has expanded. All Projects subject to Building Regulations now needs a BSA PD and a CDM PD.

Question 5

Role of the BSA PD

Answer 5

Under the Building Safety Act 2022, the principal designer is a new statutory duty holder responsible for ensuring design compliance with building regulations for higher-risk buildings (HRBs)

Question 6

What are the 3 gateways?

Answer 6

The BSA gateways are designed to provide a comprehensive safety framework throughout the lifecycle of a higher-risk building.

• Gateway 1 - Before planning permission is granted
• Gateway 2 - Before work starts
• Gateway 3 - Before the building can be occupied

Question 7

What is BSR?

Answer 7

Building Safety Regulator

The BSR, part of the HSE, is responsible for overseeing building safety in HRBs, enforcing compliance, reviewing gateway submissions, and acting as the building control body for HRBs