ECA calls for stronger competency requirements in Building Safety Act

Leading electrotechnical and engineering services trade body ECA has called for more stringent competency requirements in the new Building Safety Act, which came into law on 29 April 2022.

The Act was introduced as a Bill by the government nearly a year ago, following the Grenfell Tower disaster, in which 72 people died, and Dame Judith Hackett’s subsequent independent report.

Commenting on the Building Safety Act, ECA Technical Director Mike Smith said:

“The new Act represents the biggest step so far towards safer homes since the tragic Grenfell Tower fire of 2017. But, the last-minute removal of the legal requirement for the role of Building Safety Manager was disappointing. The responsibility has been passed on to an ‘accountable person’ – but this risks confusion that could potentially impact the safety of a building in future.

“The competence of those working in buildings and on buildings now has a higher profile than ever before, but it cannot be overstated.

“From our perspective, the Act should place more responsibility on contractors, to ensure that the people doing the work to build and maintain high rise residential buildings are suitably qualified and competent.

“We are now counting on secondary legislation for more stringent competency requirements that will help make UK households even safer from the risk of fire.”

The Act marks the biggest overhaul in building safety regulations in nearly 40 years. It will update and amend other laws, such as the Landlord & Tenant Act of 1985, the Defective Premises Act of 1972 and the Building Act of 1984.

--ECA

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[edit] Factsheets

A series of factsheets are available through Gov.UK, updated in April 2022 to provide more information about the provisions in the Building Safety Bill and how they will be implemented.

• Building safety leaseholder protections factsheet
• Dutyholders: factsheet
• Industry competence: factsheet
• Buildings included in the new more stringent regulatory regime: factsheet
• Impact Assessment: factsheet
• Building control regime for higher-risk buildings (Gateways 2 and 3): factsheet
• Safety Case: factsheet
• Safety management systems: factsheet
• Mandatory Occurrence Reporting: factsheet
• Building Safety Regulator: factsheet
• Amendments to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005: factsheet
• Accountable Persons: factsheet
• Golden thread: factsheet
• Refurbishments: factsheet
• Building control registration and regulatory oversight: factsheet
• Wider changes to the Building Act 1984: factsheet
• Building Safety Levy: factsheet
• Architects Competence: factsheet
• Architects Fees: factsheet
• Building registration and certification: factsheet
• Building Safety costs: factsheet for landlords & building owners
• Ongoing Building Safety costs: factsheet for leaseholders
• Construction products regulatory framework: factsheet
• Fire Safety Order interaction with the new regime for higher-risk buildings: factsheet
• National regulator for construction products: factsheet
• New Homes Ombudsman: factsheet
• Residents’ Voice: factsheet
• Special Measures: factsheet
• Building Assessment Certificate: transitional arrangements for existing buildings: factsheet
• Redress: factsheet
• New Build Warranties: factsheet