Building Safety

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Building Safety Guide: Building Safety Act, BSR & Practical Steps

Building Safety Guidance for Your Business

As a business involved in construction, property management or asset maintenance, you have a key role to play in ensuring building safety. With the introduction of the Building Safety Act 2022 and the establishment of the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) under the Health and Safety Executive, responsibilities around fire and structural-safety for higher-risk buildings have changed. The guidance below outlines what you need to know and do.

What is the Building Safety Regulator and Why It Matters

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR), operated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), is responsible for overseeing the safety and performance of high-risk buildings in England. It introduces new duties related to fire and structural safety, building control, and oversight of safety cases and regulation of occupied higher-risk buildings.

Key Responsibilities for Businesses

Identifying whether a building falls under the “higher-risk” category and ensuring appropriate safety systems are in place.
Ensuring compliance with new standards for building design, construction, and occupation — including fire safety and structural integrity requirements.
Registering relevant buildings and submitting safety cases or performance reports to the Building Safety Regulator.
Managing risk during construction, refurbishment or occupancy — with clear lines of accountability and evidence-based decision making.

What You Can Do to Prepare

Here are proactive steps your business should take:

Conduct a building-safety risk assessment, focusing on fire and structural hazards across the life-cycle of the building.
Establish robust governance, roles and accountabilities for building safety within your organisation.
Ensure designers, principal contractors and others comply with regulations at each phase: design, construction, completion and occupation.
Implement ongoing checks and maintenance of fire-safety systems, structural supports, and building control compliance.
Provide training and competence for those responsible for maintaining and managing building safety systems.

Training and Support for Building Safety

Businesses should invest in training to ensure staff are competent in identifying building safety hazards, managing compliance and communicating with regulatory bodies. Typical training might include:

Fire-safety management and structural safety awareness
Understanding the Building Safety Act and the role of the Building Safety Regulator
Risk assessment techniques for higher-risk buildings
Contractor and supply chain management for refurbishment or maintenance work

By understanding your regulatory duties, putting in place strong systems and training your workforce, your business can contribute to safer buildings, better reputation, and regulatory compliance. Start building safety into every project today.