Roles and Responsibilities of Building Control
The Building Safety Act introduced important updates to how building control operates. These changes, driven by the Building Safety Regulator and informed by the Grenfell Tower Stage 2 Inquiry, aim to strengthen compliance and safety standards across the construction industry.
A New Focus on Compliance
The role of building control is now primarily regulatory, placing greater emphasis on ensuring that projects align with the Building Act and Regulations. This shift means a stronger focus on safety and adherence to the rules, ensuring that everyone involved in construction meets their responsibilities.
Designers Take the Lead
Under the new regulations, Registered Building Inspectors focus solely on assessing compliance. While we’re here to inspect and evaluate, design advice is not part of the role. Designers must now provide fully compliant plans and stay actively involved throughout the project to address any updates or required changes.
Stricter Standards
The new regime prioritises high standards, with greater scrutiny on the competence of contractors, designers, and other duty holders. While we’ve always worked towards safety and quality, the emphasis is now on addressing non-compliance firmly to ensure regulations are upheld. More emphasis is placed on the ‘enforcement’ of the building regulations.
What this means for you
Clients, Designers and Contractors now have clearly defined duty holder roles to comply with the Building Regulations Part 2A: chapters 1 to 5 and Regulations 11A to 11O of The Building Regulations etc. (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2023.
- Clients are expected to fully fund and resource projects to ensure that compliance can be achieved, by appointing a competent principal designer and principal contractor.
- Principal Designers and designers will be expected to provide detailed designs and supporting documentation and present them in a way that explains how the project achieves compliance with regulations.
- Principal Contractors and subcontractors will now be expected to follow the provided plans and materials without deviation, and any changes must be agreed with the designer. Contractors who make changes without consulting the designer assume full responsibility for compliance.
- Domestic Clients (any individual who has building work carried out on their home, or the home of a family member for domestic purposes, not for business purposes) can appoint a Principal Designer and Principal Contractor on projects that are likely to involve more than one contractor or appoint a small contractor as below:
- Small Contractors must ensure that they are competent and insured to act as both contractor and designer, as they will be held accountable for compliance and expected to produce the necessary drawings and specifications.
Further clarification on the duty holder duties and competence can be found on the gov.uk website
