Building Safety Act: Knowledge hub

[edit] Summary

The Building Safety Act 2022 is a legislative framework intended to improve the safety of buildings, in particular high-rise and multi-occupancy residential buildings. It was developed in response to the 'Independent review of the building regulations and fire safety', also known as the 'Hackitt review', which followed the tragic 2017 Grenfell Tower fire.

The Building Safety Act came into effect on 2 April 2023. Its purpose is to ensure that all buildings, and in particular high-rise buildings, are designed, constructed, and managed to be safe for occupants. It provides a legal framework for secondary legislation and guidance related to building safety, including fire safety and structural integrity, which set out duties and responsibilities for owners, managers, designers, contractors and developers in England and Wales.

[edit] Key aims of the Building Safety Act

The key aims of the Act and its supporting regulations include improved transparency and accountability, through clearer definition of the roles of Responsible Persons (RPs), their level of competency, coordination and co-operation. It requires that accurate records of all fire safety information and processes are kept throughout a building’s lifespan in what is known as a golden thread of information, and that the information is transparent and accessible, including to building users. It also gives enforcement authorities powers to take direct action against any entities involved in the process that are non-compliant.

The Act creates three new bodies to provide oversight of the new regime:

• The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) to oversee the safety and performance of all buildings, with a particular focus on high-rise buildings, to promote competence and organisational capability, including for building control and tradespeople.
• The National Construction Products Regulator (NRCP) to lead and oversee more effective construction products regulation, co-ordinate market surveillance as well as enforcement following secondary legislation.
• The New Homes Ombudsman Scheme to allow improved complaint procedure, whereby developers will be required to become a member of the scheme, adhering to an enforcement framework and sanctions for breaching requirements.

[edit] Key articles relating to the Building Safety Act on Designing Buildings

[edit] Legislation and standards

• Building Regulations – Part B
• Building Safety Act 2022
• Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
• Higher Risk Buildings
• Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
• Secondary legislation linked to the Building Safety Act
• The Fire Safety Act 2021
• Building safety in Northern Ireland
• Building safety in Scotland
• Building safety in Wales

[edit] Dutyholders and competencies

• Accountable Person
• BSI Built Environment Competence Standards
• Client responsibilities
• Competence standards (PAS 8671, 8672, 8673)
• Industry Competence Committee
• Industry Competence Steering Group
• Principal Accountable Person
• Principal Contractor
• Principal Designer

[edit] Regulators

• Building Safety Regulator
• National Regulator of Construction Products
• New Homes Ombudsman

[edit] Background

• Building a Safer Future - Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety (Hackitt Review)
• Golden thread
• Grenfell Tower tragedy
• Higher risk buildings
• Independent Grenfell Tower Inquiry
• Glossary of terms

[edit] All other articles about building safety

There are more than 600 articles about building safety on Designing Buildings. A full index is available here. You can find out more on our special subject hub - Building Safety Wiki.

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