The Building Regulations Principal Designer (BR PD) is a pivotal role introduced by The Building Safety Act 2022 and The Building Regulations etc. (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2023. Effective from 1 October 2023, this role is mandatory for all projects involving building work where the Building Regulations apply.
Tasked with planning, managing, and monitoring the design phase, the Principal Designer takes all reasonable steps to ensure designs comply with the Building Regulations. This role must be fulfilled by individuals or organisations possessing the necessary competence, skills, and established management processes to oversee compliance effectively.
They play a crucial role in fostering collaboration among project team members to integrate regulatory compliance seamlessly into the design process. By overseeing the integration of regulatory considerations from the project’s inception, the Building Regulations Principal Designer contributes significantly to the overall compliance and quality of the construction work.
Under the new amendments, it is a legal requirement for clients to appoint a Building Regulations Principal Designer for applicable projects. All duty holders, including clients, designers, contractors, and Principal Contractors, are obligated to take a proactive stance in demonstrating how their projects adhere to the Building Regulations.
Simply CDM is well equipped and possesses the requisite competence and experience to successfully deliver the Building Regulations Principal Designer role. Please get in touch with us to discuss how we can support your project in meeting all Building Regulations obligations.
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In short, the Building Regulations Principal Designer role includes the following key activities:
- Competence Statement
Provide a competence statement to demonstrate our skills, knowledge, experience, and behaviours in accordance with regulatory requirements. - Initial Site Visit
Conduct an initial site visit to understand the existing site and surrounding areas. - Initial Meeting with the Client
Hold an initial meeting with the client to ensure awareness of their legal duties under the Building Safety Act. - Briefing Meetings
Conduct briefing meetings with the client and project team to provide advice regarding the client’s and designers’ duties under the Building Safety Act. - Technical Reviews
Undertake technical reviews of design information for compliance with the Building Regulations and all relevant requirements. - Design Team Collaboration
Attend and contribute to design team meetings, design workshops, and client meetings. - Review Golden Thread Arrangements
Review the client’s Golden Thread arrangements to ensure proper documentation and information management. - Building Regulations Tracker
Develop and manage a Building Regulations Tracker to monitor and record compliance with the Building Regulations and relevant requirements. - Provide Compliance Advice
Offer advice to the project team on compliance with the Building Safety Act and the functional requirements of the Building Regulations. - Information Sharing
Share building information, including the Building Regulations Tracker, with the design team and principal contractor. - Change Control Plan Coordination
Coordinate and assist the principal contractor in preparing the Change Control Plan, including detailing how we will periodically review its effectiveness. - Compliance Workshops
Hold Building Regulations compliance workshops with the design team. - Building Control Process Guidance
Provide advice and guidance to the project team regarding the building control process under the Building Safety Act. - Principal Contractor Liaison
Liaise with the principal contractor in relation to the coordination of building work and design work for the purpose of compliance with all relevant requirements. - Establish Mandatory Occurrence Reporting Systems
Collaborate with the client and principal contractor to establish a Mandatory Occurrence Reporting system, including a plan for reporting procedures. - Site Progress Meetings
Attend progress meetings on site during construction to facilitate ongoing communication and coordination with the principal contractor. - Compliance Declaration
Provide a compliance declaration upon completion, confirming that we have fulfilled our duties as Principal Designer under Part 2A of the Building Regulations 2010 (as amended).
