Principal Designer Services: New Role Under the Building Safety Act 2022

A new role of the principal designer has been created following the implementation of the Building Safety Act 2022, which now encompasses responsibilities under the Building Regulations in addition to the existing role under the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM). Since October 2023, clients are required to appoint a principal designer to oversee the design of buildings relative to the Building Regulations, alongside managing health and safety concerns throughout the construction and maintenance phases of a project.

Background: The Catalyst for Change

The Building Safety Act 2022 emerged as a direct response to the tragic Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, where 72 lives were lost. Dame Judith Hackitt’s inquiry revealed a series of systemic failures in design, construction, certification, management, and maintenance processes, triggering widespread regulatory reforms aimed at preventing such tragedies in the future.

The role was initially introduced with the CDM Regulations 2015, which sought to ensure that health and safety considerations were embedded in the design process. Mark Fairhurst Architects has provided principal designer services since 2017, offering these services to both commercial and domestic clients. https://www.mark-fairhurst.co.uk/principal-designer-services/

The Role of the Principal Designer in the Building Safety Act 2022

In response to the success of CDM 2015, Dame Judith Hackitt recommended further strengthening the role of duty holders, including clients, designers, and contractors. As part of this update, the Building Safety Act 2022 introduced a second, distinct principal designer role focused specifically on Building Regulations compliance. This role requires the appointed person to:

• Plan, manage, and monitor design work during the design phase.
• Coordinate matters to ensure compliance with relevant Building Regulations.

New Regulations for High-Risk Residential Buildings (HRBs)

Under the new legislation, additional safety protocols are in place for high-risk residential buildings (HRBs) over 18 meters in height. Key measures include:

• Mandatory Reporting: A system to report safety occurrences to the Health & Safety regulator.
• Compliance Declarations: Principal or lead designers must submit declarations confirming that HRB designs comply with safety standards.
• Gateway System: A staged approval process requires demonstration of compliance with safety requirements, including fire safety, at planning, pre-construction, and completion stages.
• Building Safety Regulator Oversight: The Building Safety Regulator, not the local authority, now processes building control applications for HRBs.
• Golden Thread of Information: A digital record of all the relevant design information is maintained and accessed from a single point during the design, construction and use of the building to ensure the latest relevant information is available to the duty holders and building users.

Our Commitment to Safety and Competence

At Mark Fairhurst Architects, we continuously update our competencies to remain at the forefront of principal designer services. We conduct regular training to ensure our team’s skills, knowledge, experience, and behaviours align with the latest health and safety requirements. Our firm has achieved the new RIBA accreditation for Health & Safety, demonstrating our expertise in design risk management, legislation, building safety, and fire safety design.

Our professional development includes advanced study through the RIBA Principal Designer Course and adherence to the latest RIBA guidance. This commitment ensures we provide informed, high-quality services to our clients.

Get in Touch

If you’re planning a construction project and need expert advice on appointing a PD, Mark Fairhurst Architects is here to help. Contact us at:

• Phone: 020 7407 7070
• Email: info@mark-fairhurst.co.uk

We offer a free consultation to discuss your needs and provide tailored guidance for ensuring the safety and compliance of your project.

Principal Designer: References

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/design-and-building-work-meeting-building-requirements

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/safety-in-high-rise-residential-buildings-accountable-persons

https://www.hse.gov.uk/building-safety/building-control/regime-overview.htm