Your responsibility under the Buildings Safety Act as a Client of MP Chartered Architects

The introduction of the new Buildings Safety Act requires a duty from our clients on how they are required to engage with their projects. The regulations dictate that the client must take direct responsibility in ensuring compliance with building regulations.
As a client of MP Chartered Architects, it’s imperative to understand the depth of your duties under this new legislation.

Client Duties

The Client is the organisation or individual for whom a construction project is carried out. They are ultimately responsible for ensuring that the requirements of the Building Regulations are met and the Client’s duties cannot be subcontracted to a third party.
The Client is responsible for making appropriate project planning, management, and monitoring arrangements, including allocating enough time and resources for compliance with the Building Regulations.

It is the Client’s responsibility to

• Ensure design work is carried out so that the building work is compliant with the Building Regulations.
• Ensure the building work is carried out in accordance with the Building Regulations.
• Enable designers and contractors to cooperate to ensure compliance with the Building Regulations.
• Undertake periodic reviews to mitigate risks.
• Provide building information to every architect, designer, interior designer and all other contractors on the project.
• Ensure arrangements are maintained and reviewed throughout the project
• Assess the competency of the Principal Designer and Principal Contractor

• Building Regulations Principal Designer (MP Chartered Architects)
• Building Regulations Principal Contractor

Appointments must be made before the construction phase begins or if the project involves a Higher-Risk Building (HRB) before a building control application is submitted to the Building Safety Regulator. If a client does not appoint a BR Principal Designer or BR Principal Contractor, they must fulfil the duties of those roles.
Where a client has already appointed a Principal Designer and Principal Contractor under the CDM Regulations for the project, the Client may certify in writing that those parties will also be appointed as the BSA Principal Designer and Principal Contractor under the Building Safety Act.

Compliance
If duty holders cannot demonstrate they are meeting duty holder or competence requirements, it will be considered an enforcement breach of duty holders’ duties and competence requirements, which is a criminal offence – Section 35 of the Building Act 1984.

Clarity
The Buildings Safety Act aim is to protect all parties involved in the project. By understanding and fulfilling their duties under this legislation, clients can, mitigate risks and ensure the safe and compliant build environments.

Conclusion
It is important to have a qualified RIBA architectural practice who have the experience to understand and navigate the complexities of the Building Safety Act and manage the process on the clients behalf.

MP Chartered Architects recognise the complexities of the Buildings Safety Act. We can support you in navigating this directive, ensuring you are compliant.
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Addendum

Your responsibility under the Buildings Safety Act as a Client of MP Chartered Architects
As a valued client of MP Chartered Architects, it’s essential to understand your responsibilities under the Building Safety Act, particularly concerning the preparation and use of architectural drawings for your project.

Once we have meticulously crafted the survey drawings for your proposed project, our next step involves the creation of two sets of drawings:

Planning Drawings

Planning drawings serve to illustrate both the current state of the building and its potential post-construction appearance. These drawings include design plans, elevations, and site plans. They are crucial evidence used in applications for planning permission, prior approval, or certificates of lawful development.

Construction Drawings

Construction drawings provide detailed information essential for the building contractor to grasp the project’s full scope. These drawings are significantly more detailed than planning drawings and include construction-specific information. They enable contractors to accurately allocate project costs. Additionally, structural engineers utilise these drawings to generate quotations and prepare structural drawings and calculations.

Author : Jessica Parkes. Read More https://www.mpcharteredarchitects.co.uk/news/