By Vicky Saunders, BTP Architects

It’s now ten months since the implementation of the Building Safety Act (BSA) 2022 secondary legislation in August 2023, and in this time we’ve seen the landscape of building safety and compliance change significantly. As stakeholders adjust to these changes, it’sin important that housing providers understand the implications and how to ensure compliance.

Having experience overseeing higher-risk buildings (HRBs) and tower block projects, we’ve been working closely with our clients to help them navigate these complex new requirements.

The BSA introduces several new provisions that housing providers must be aware of to meet their legal obligations. Understanding these provisions and how they apply to projects is essential for safeguarding both the residents and the long-term integrity of buildings.

Key provisions

• Principal designers and principal contractors: these roles now carry legal responsibilities for planning, managing and monitoring the design and construction phases, ensuring that safety is prioritised throughout
• Building Safety Regulator (BSR): this body oversees the safety and performance of all buildings, enforces compliance with the BSA, and holds those responsible for the safety of HSBs accountable. Under Part 3 of the BSA, the Building Safety Regulator becomes the building control authority for higher-risk buildings
• Gateway regime: the three-step process integrates safety considerations at each stage of a building’s lifecycle, from planning and design (Gateway 1), through to construction (Gateway 2), and before occupation (Gateway 3).

As the roles of principal designers have now expanded with increased responsibilities, it’s clear that architects are now best placed to fulfil these duties. We’ve established clear, easy-to-follow procedures for both HRBs and non-HRBs, providing comprehensive checklists and guidance to streamline the compliance process for stakeholders.

For housing providers, the expanded responsibilities under the BSA require careful planning and the appointment of skilled professionals who can navigate these new requirements. The role of principal designers, in particular, has grown significantly, with increased accountability for ensuring that safety is embedded from the earliest design stages.

It’s essential to establish clear, systematic procedures for both HRBs and non-HRBs, ensuring a streamlined compliance process from end to end.

Managing design and compliance

Effective management of design and compliance is another crucial aspect of meeting BSA requirements. Housing providers should implement robust processes to manage any on-site design changes, making sure that as-constructed drawings remain accurate and that all modifications are carefully controlled.

Regular audits of designer competencies are also recommended to ensure that only qualified professionals handle critical tasks, maintaining the highest safety and quality standards.

Effective change control and the golden thread

Change control is an important part of the new BSA regulations and a critical aspect of maintaining design compliance. We’ve developed a secure process to manage this from end to end, including regular site inspections to ensure adherence to approved designs, material trackers coupled with rigorous change control protocols to document and ensure compliance for any alterations, and close collaboration with contractors to ensure smooth implementation.

According to the government, the concept of the golden thread involves keeping a digital record of crucial building information – starting from the design phase and continuing throughout the building’s lifecycle. This includes documenting any enhancements or modifications to buildings so that any potential risks can be identified.

The BSA requires that all crucial building information is stored digitally, though it may comprise of building work and maintenance separately and may be stored on multiple systems.

While now only a legal requirement for HSBs, since the Grenfell tragedy it has been a key focus of ours to ensure that accurate and up-to-date information is maintained throughout the lifecycle of a building.

Building information modelling (BIM) is essential for modern construction and can aid compliance with the BSA, but not all clients have the necessary software to carry this out.

We’ve developed a simplified, effective golden thread of information, which is tailored to asset teams and compatible with their systems, making sure they can benefit from BIM protocols without the need for extensive technical infrastructure.

By staying informed and proactive in managing these new responsibilities, housing providers can not only comply with the BSA but also contribute to creating safer and longer-lasting living environments for their residents.

Our goal at BTP is not only to meet these new requirements but to exceed them, making sure that the measures we implement and the advice we give genuinely improves safety and quality.