Claimed to be the biggest change in over 40 years, the
new building safety act came into force with little fanfare – creating barely a
ripple across the construction landscape.
But the significance of this legislation was not lost on the Light Steel Frame Association (LSFA) which hosted a roundtable event to debate the implications of the secondary legislation. A specially invited group of legal professionals, construction consultants and light steel framing experts gathered in Birmingham for a lively discussion around the implications of the Act and the challenges of implementing it.
Building a Safer Future
With far reaching consequences, on 14 June 2017 a high-rise fire broke out at Grenfell Tower in North Kensington, West London – one of the UK’s most devastating modern disasters. In addition to the public inquiry, the government commissioned an independent review of building regulations and fire safety. Coming in the wake of the Hackitt Review ‘Building a Safer Future’ and receiving Royal Assent on 28 April 2022, the Building Safety Act covers a raft of changes introducing new duties for the management of fire and safety in high-rise residential buildings. These include a new system of accountability for safety in projects and a refreshed regulatory framework. The Act also has wider implications across all construction sectors.
The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) based within the Health and Safety Executive, became operational from 01 April 2023 and the principal accountable person (legally responsible for the structure and exterior of the building) has been required to register high-rise residential buildings from that date.
The overhaul of regulations will require building owners to demonstrate safety at each of three new ‘gateways’ – planning and design, construction and occupation. Compliance will be monitored by the Building Safety Regulator with significant powers to demand documents and to stop works, and a new National Regulator for Construction Products with the power to remove dangerous products.
On 01 October 2023, the secondary legislation needed to support the practical implementation of the Building Safety Act came into force to help ensure responsible parties operate within the law. The Building Safety Regulator will now monitor the construction industry and will be able to impose fines, order alterations or the removal of non-compliant work.
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