Designers for buildings and other built assets

A designer is defined in the 2015 CDM Regulations as ‘…an organisation or individual, who prepares or modifies a design for a construction project (including the design of temporary works); or arranges for, or instruct someone else to do so.’

The term designer has been used as a general term also in reference to the Building Safety Act as the team who is led by the principle designer covering a wide spectrum of disciplines from product design to building design. Principle designers have a key role under both CDM and Building Safety, but designers also have a number of responsibilities under these. See also the relevant articles for principle designer and principle contractor.

In the first instance, designers are likely to be members of the consultant team appointed by the client. Typically, this will include:

• Architects.
• Architectural Technologists.
• Structural engineers.
• Services engineers.
• Landscape designers.

However, the increasing complexity of building design means that there is an ever greater need for further specialist design input such as:

• Specialist facilities designer (such as kitchens, operating theatres, swimming pools, recording studios).
• Materials designers (such as structural systems, doors and window, glazing or flooring).
• Specialist fixtures and fittings.
• Audio visual equipment.
• Information and communications technology (ITC) installations.
• Safety and security installations.
• Specialist systems (such as baggage handling).
• Specialist lighting.
• Acoustic environment.

This means that as the design progresses, it may be necessary to appoint additional designers. Specialist designers input can be obtained from:

• Contractors or suppliers appointed in the first instance to carry out design and subsequently to carry out the works on site or to supply the goods or services.
• Consultants appointed by the client to carry out design and then monitor works on site (these may be sub-consultants to an existing member of the consultant team). Additional design consultants might include:

1. Acoustic consultant.
2. Ecologist.
3. Environmental consultant.
4. Facilities management consultant.
5. Fire engineering consultant.
6. Health and safety consultant.
7. Inclusive Design (Access) consultant
8. Interior designer.
9. Information and communications technology consultant.
10. Landscape consultant.
11. Lighting designer.
12. Masterplanner.
13. Public health consultant.
14. Security consultant.
15. Transport/traffic engineer.

For designers to work effectively as a team they should adopt collaborative practices as early in the project as possible. The requirement to adopt such practices should be included in appointment documents. The client may wish to allocate the roles of lead designer and lead consultant to co-ordinate the work of the rest of the team.

It might also be appropriate to appoint a design co-ordinator (for the co-ordination and integration of design prepared by specialist contractors) and a computer aided design (CAD) and/or building information modelling (BIM) co-ordinator and BIM information manager. Contractors may appoint their own design managers to co-ordinate their own design and that of sub-contractors.

The BSRIA guide to 'Commissioning Air Systems' (BG 49/2024), written by by Keith Barker and published by BSRIA in March 2024, explains how to commission ducted air distribution systems in buildings. It was originally published in 2013, then 2015 with the latest update in 2024. It defines a designer for the purposes of the guide as 'The organisation(s) or person(s) responsible for the design of the air systems that are to be commissioned. Depending on the method of procurement this may be one or more organisation.'

Notes:

• In the context of the UK Building Safety Act, a designer refers to an individual or organisation responsible for preparing or modifying designs for construction projects, including buildings, structures, or building systems. Designers play a critical role in ensuring that construction projects meet regulatory requirements, health and safety standards, and client specifications. Overall, designers play a crucial role in shaping the built environment, contributing to the safety, functionality, and sustainability of buildings and structures while meeting the needs and expectations of clients and users.
• In a submission to the Inquiry into the Construction of Edinburgh Schools in 2016, The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) criticised the transfer of responsibility from construction professionals to other parties less involved with the design process and sited the dilution of the role of the design team as one of the causes of poor quality construction. See Inquiry into the construction of Edinburgh schools view of the RIAS for more information.
• Commissioning Air Systems (BG 49/2015), written by Chris Parsloe and published by BSRIA in March 2015, explains how to commission ducted air distribution systems in buildings. It defines the designer for the purposes of the guide as: ‘The organisation (firm or persons) responsible for the design of the air systems that are to be commissioned. Depending on the method of procurement this may be one or more organisation. In many instances the design intent of the air systems may be set out by one organisation, with the final selection of some, or all, of the individual components (main plant, fans, terminal equipment, control and regulating dampers etc.) by another organisation. Where this is the case the final system flow rates should be provided by the organisation that has selected the components, however this responsibility should be clearly set out in the contract documents.’

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Appointing consultants.
• Architect.
• Building Information Modelling.
• CDM 2015 designer duties.
• Collaborative practices.
• Concept design.
• Consultant team.
• Consultant team start-up meeting.
• Contractors.
• Construction team.
• Design.
• Design and build.
• Design liability.
• Design methodology.
• Design process essentials.
• Design responsibility matrix.
• Design team meeting.
• Design workshop.
• Detailed design.
• Fees.
• Fire safety engineer.
• Interior designer.
• Lead consultant.
• Lead designer.
• Professional indemnity insurance.
• Services engineer.
• Structural engineer.
• Specialist designers.
• Team management.

[edit] External references

• OGC: Collaborative practices.
• OGC - Achieving Excellence in Construction Procurement Guide: The integrated project team, team work and partnering.
• RICS Guidance Note Managing the design delivery: A guide to best practice, RICS 2008.