Building Safety Act: October 2023
The Building Safety Act is a significant change in the construction industry, highlighting the importance of safety, accountability, and transparency. Construction contractors and subcontractors must adapt by understanding the Act, working closely with others, and fostering a safety-focused culture..
Starting on October 1, 2023, the UK saw a big shift in construction due to the Act introducing new responsibilities and systems. This law aims to transform how buildings are designed, built, and managed, with a strong emphasis on safety and accountability.
The Building Safety Act of 2022 is a major overhaul in the UK’s construction rules, driven by the need to reshape the industry after the 2017 Grenfell Tower tragedy. It puts a strong focus on building safety for all projects.
The Act introduces new roles for everyone involved, such as clients, contractors, and designers. Meeting specific and general duties is crucial, emphasising compliance with building rules and approved designs. Good communication and cooperation among all involved are crucial.
Under the new building control system rules, the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) takes charge of higher-risk buildings. Gateways 2 and 3 are introduced, requiring approval before construction and assessments afterward. There’s also a must-do registration for those approving and inspecting.
For ongoing higher-risk building projects, there are special rules. Plans needed approval before October 1, 2023, and the project must be well underway by April 6, 2024 to skip certain steps.
A digital “golden thread” of information must be kept for higher-risk building projects, ensuring it’s secure, accurate, and accessible.
Mandatory safety reports are now required for riskier buildings, detailing hazards and how risks are managed. There’s also a system for reporting incidents, and high-rise homes had to sign up with the BSR by October 1, 2023.
In Phase 3, the Building Safety Act changes some rules for the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, enhancing cooperation, coordination, and enforcement for fire safety. There’s also a money plan, the Building Safety Levy, aiming to collect £3 billion over a decade. Developers pay into it during the building process to fix safety problems.
Dorplan are committed to ensuring our doorsets meet the requirements to comply with all changes in the Building Safety Act. To find out more about our 3rd-party accredited doorset solutions, contact us on 01366 386800 or complete the enquiry form on the link below.
