Why this fire safety ruling matters for insolvent contractors

by ConstructionFeatured NewsSafety

Fire safety orders granted in Portsmouth case

The High Court has granted two Building Liability Orders in proceedings linked to fire safety defects at the Admiralty Quarter development in Portsmouth.

Gateley Plc said the Technology and Construction Court ruled that associated Ardmore group companies could be jointly and severally liable for an unpaid adjudication award of about £14.9 million and for any future liability that Ardmore Construction Limited (ACL) may be found to owe.

The claim was brought by entities within the Crest Nicholson group of companies, which acted as developer and headlease proprietor of the residential scheme.

Admiralty Quarter was completed between 2007 and 2009 under a design and build contract with ACL as principal contractor.

Crest alleged defects including combustible insulation, missing and defective cavity barriers, deficiencies in fire stopping and compartmentation, and further issues said to render parts of the development unfit for habitation.

ACL entered administration in August 2025, one day before an adjudicator issued a decision awarding Crest about £14.9 million in relation to fire safety defects in the external wall systems.

Court sets out scope of the orders

Gateley Plc said Crest applied for two forms of relief under sections 130 and 131 of the Building Safety Act 2022 following ACL’s insolvency.

The first application sought an anticipatory Building Liability Order so that any liability ACL may ultimately be found to owe under section 1 of the Defective Premises Act 1972, or as a result of a building safety risk, would also be the joint and several liability of associated Ardmore group companies.

The second sought an adjudication Building Liability Order to make those same associated companies jointly and severally liable for the adjudicator’s unpaid award.

The Ardmore group defendants accepted that they were associates for the purposes of the Building Safety Act 2022.

They argued that the application was premature, that it was not just and equitable to make the orders at that stage and that an adjudicator’s decision could not amount to a relevant liability under section 130.

Mr Justice Constable held that the Court has jurisdiction to make anticipatory Building Liability Orders before liability is finally determined.

He also held that an adjudicator’s decision can constitute a relevant liability for the purposes of section 130.

Judgment addresses adjudication and future liability

Gateley Plc said the Court found that Building Liability Orders form part of a wider legislative scheme intended to ensure that those responsible for historical building safety defects bear the cost and that liability cannot be avoided through corporate structuring or insolvency.

Mr Justice Constable stated at paragraph 192 of the judgment: “a conclusion that adjudication is fundamentally incompatible with the application of BLOs would deprive the construction industry of the use of one of the most important dispute resolution tools from which it has benefited significantly over the last 30 years.”

At paragraph 193, he added: “building safety matters, in the wake of Grenfell Tower, have given rise to what is probably the single largest area of construction disputes in recent history, if not ever.”

The Court ordered that any liability ACL may ultimately be found to owe under section 1 of the Defective Premises Act 1972 or as a result of a building safety risk will also be the joint and several liability of the associated Ardmore group companies.

It also ordered that those companies be jointly and severally liable for the adjudicator’s award of about £14.9 million, even though the decision remains open to final determination at trial.

In each case, the Court held that the statutory test of what was just and equitable was satisfied on the facts.

Gateley Plc said the judgment confirms that claimants do not need to wait until after trial before seeking relief against solvent associated companies where the original defendant is insolvent, and that adjudicators’ decisions can in principle support Building Liability Orders under the Building Safety Act 2022.

Mark Lennon, Gemma Bowkett and Abbie Lockwood of Gateley Legal’s Construction Unit acted for Crest in the application.

Regulator appoints new leaders to Building Advisory Committee

by Featured NewsPeopleSafety

Building Safety Regulator announces BAC leadership changes

The Building Advisory Committee has appointed Dr Barbara Lane as Independent Chair and Dr Hywel Davies OBE as Deputy Chair in a leadership change linked to the Building Safety Regulator.

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) announced the appointments and said Dr Lane is the first Independent Chair of the Building Advisory Committee (BAC).

Dr Lane is a Fellow of Arup and a chartered senior engineering executive with 30 years’ experience across sectors in the built environment.

She served as an expert witness for the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 from 2017 to 2024.

Dr Davies has served on the BAC since it was created and is Head of Technical Insight at the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE).

He also chaired the BAC’s predecessor body, the Building Regulations Advisory Committee, from 2020 to 2023.

Committee transition and advisory role

BSR said the appointments mark the start of a transition for the committee as it continues its advisory role alongside the Industry Competence Committee (ICC) and the Statutory Residents’ Panel.

Dr Lane and Dr Davies are liaising with BSR as the leadership transition progresses.

The committee’s strategic direction is being considered as part of work to align it with BSR.

The Statutory Residents’ Panel is recruiting its own Independent Chair.

Comments on the Regulator appointments

Dr Lane said: “Taking on this independent role is part of my ongoing commitment to create a safe and equitable built environment, one that works for everyone.

“I believe that the committee can be a powerful force for good across the sector, building on the harsh lessons learnt from the Grenfell fire.

“My aim is to try and remedy the shortcomings exposed in our building standards to protect and improve the lives of millions throughout the country.”

Dr Davies said: “I am pleased to be appointed Deputy Chair, supporting Dr Lane in her new role.

“The committee has a critical role to play supporting BSR in its work to improve the building safety regime, identify risks to building users, and provide consistent and timely standards and guidance that can meet the complex challenges we face today.”

Charlie Pugsley, Acting Chief Executive Officer of BSR, said: “I would like to take this opportunity to welcome both Dr Lane and Dr Davies to their new roles on the Building Advisory Committee.

“Together they bring a wealth of expertise garnered from successful careers working in the built environment and will make a real difference to the positive impact of BSR, the committee and regimes under the Building Safety Act.

“Their combined knowledge and skills will be invaluable to informing and supporting our mission to ensure safer homes and buildings for all.”

The committee is considering its strategic direction as the leadership transition continues.

BESA’s new competence toolkit targets Building Safety Act compliance

by Featured NewsSafetyTraining

Competence guidance under the Building Safety Act

The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has published a free guide setting out how employers can demonstrate competence under the Building Safety Act and show compliance to the Building Safety Regulator.

BESA said the document, titled Demonstrating Competence under the Building Safety Act, is the latest in its series of practical guides for the building services industry.

The guide is intended to help employers meet legislative competence requirements in professions where formal qualifications or full competence frameworks are still absent.

It explains how individuals and organisations can understand, evidence and apply the principles of Skills, Knowledge, Experience and Behaviours that define competence.

BESA sets out competence as part of a wider risk management process that is governed and reviewed through each stage of project delivery.

The guidance includes evidence of how work is allocated on the basis of demonstrable competence.

It also covers how competence is monitored and reviewed and how gaps should be addressed when they are identified.

The document outlines a proportionate competence management system based on the SKEB model developed by BESA.

Competence evidence and compliance pathway

BESA said the advice is aligned with work being carried out by the Engineering and Building Services Skills Authority (EBSSA) and the Industry Competence Steering Group (ICSG).

The guide states that construction-related professions are still expected to show the Building Safety Regulator that people carrying out safety-critical tasks are competent for those specific tasks.

That requirement applies even where sector frameworks are still incomplete.

BESA said the guidance was produced in response to requests across the sector for clearer information about what competence is, what good practice looks like and how it can be evidenced to regulators and clients.

The guidance is divided into ten sections.

These sections cover defining competence, using assessment and evidence to satisfy the Regulator, addressing competence in supply chains and linking to other tools and standards.

BESA’s director of specialist knowledge Rachel Davidson said: “Employers have always been liable for ensuring the right competence is in the right roles at the right time.

“However, the Regulator has now tightened the alignment between legislation and the Building Regulations to explicitly impose competence requirements on both individuals and organisations.

“This gives more clarity and oversight around how competence is defined, demonstrated and governed – and our new guide shows employers how to comply.”

Davidson added that competence should not be regarded as “a tick box exercise” and described it as a continuous management discipline combining technical rigour with behaviour to achieve compliance.

She said: “Many employers in this industry already have good systems in place and employ excellent people keen to do a good job.

“They don’t need to wait for the various industry committees to finish their work on formal competence frameworks.

“Our guide provides a method for establishing or verifying a system you can defend in the face of Regulator scrutiny now.”

The guide is available as a free download.

Firehalt to return to Fire Safety Event at NEC

by EventsFeatured NewsPassive

Firehalt will attend the Fire Safety Event at the NEC in Hall 4 on stand H97 for the first time in several years.

The company announced the appearance following its acquisition by SaveGuard in June 2024.

SaveGuard designs acoustic and thermal insulation products.

Firehalt said its personnel will be on stand H97 in Hall 4 to answer questions about fire barrier systems.

Firehalt says show will support market research

Richard Parker-Poole, business unit director, said: “With the significant investment that we are making in Firehalt, we are using the show to research what the market wants from modern fire barrier solutions.

“Our products are independently tested and certified to meet all current fire safety standards, but for such a safety critical solution we must work with all those involved in their specification, installation, and future inspection within the building.

“The Building Safety Act talks about the golden thread of responsibility.

“As one of the world’s leading high-performance textile companies we must engage with everyone involved to ensure that our part of the golden thread works at every stage of its lifecycle.

“Our products are part of the fabric in a building.

“Working independently or alongside active fire protection systems they give people enough time to safely evacuate in an emergency.

“Their correct specification and installation will help save lives.”

Firehalt also said further information is available through its website.

PlanRadar to support ESS across fire remediation projects

by ConstructionFeatured NewsProjects

PlanRadar selected for fire remediation compliance

PlanRadar has been appointed by Errigal Sustainable Solutions (ESS) as its long-term digital partner for fire remediation projects, with the platform set to support building safety and compliance across ESS’s portfolio.

PlanRadar announced that ESS selected the platform after a six-month evaluation process.

ESS, a specialist residential contractor working for housing associations, local authorities and private developers, chose the system to simplify compliance with the Building Safety Act, especially at Gateway 2 and 3 stages.

The platform will be implemented from the ground up and will bring fire-stopping records and quality checks into one central digital hub.

ESS said this will give it visibility across its project portfolio and maintain a consistent Golden Thread of data through the building lifecycle.

PlanRadar to support quality monitoring

A key part of the appointment is the use of PlanRadar to digitise site inspections and strengthen quality monitoring on fire remediation work.

Ray Toft, Managing Director at Errigal Sustainable Solutions, said: “We are a quality-led, relationship-driven business that views itself as a service provider first.

“Partnering with PlanRadar allows us to embed Tier 1-level digital systems from the start, rather than retrofitting legacy technology.

“PlanRadar is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution.

“Its adaptability means we can evolve the platform alongside our team.

“We were particularly impressed by its AI capabilities, having a system that learns from our data to validate compliance documentation could be a game-changer for fire remediation.”

ESS said the digitised inspection process is intended to reduce rework and help high-stakes fire safety tasks be completed correctly the first time.

PlanRadar partnership to cover project visibility

PlanRadar’s UK team said the partnership is intended to standardise quality monitoring and improve real-time visibility across projects.

Rob Norton, UK Director at PlanRadar, added: “We are pleased to partner with Errigal Sustainable Solutions.

“Their vision and experience demonstrate how technology can tackle the industry’s most pressing regulatory challenges.

“By using PlanRadar to standardise quality monitoring and gain real-time visibility across all projects, ESS is ideally positioned to minimise rework and drive operational efficiency.

“Together, we aim to not just meet compliance requirements but deliver superior transparency and service to their clients.”

The collaboration will also provide social landlords and developers with visibility over project progress and data to support building safety cases.

Collaborative safety culture: Novus Property Solutions explains Building Safety Act duties

by Breaking NewsConstructionSafety

David Barnes, Operations Manager – Compliance at Novus Property Solutions, explains how contractors maintain the golden thread of information on projects involving passive fire protection

Granted Royal Assent on 28 April 2022, the Building Safety Act overhauled existing regulations and created three new bodies to provide effective oversight including the Building Safety Regulator which oversees the safety and performance of all buildings.

By introducing a series of critical gateways covering the design, construction, and occupation phases, the Building Safety Act sets out clearly what role every link in the supply chain plays and where responsibility lies at each stage.

Gateway 1 is the design stage and focuses on obtaining planning permission, demonstrating proposed designs meet all necessary safety requirements and the specification must be fit for purpose.

Gateway 2 involves inspections during the construction phase to verify adherence to approved plans with evidence to show compliance.

The final stage is gateway 3 which ensures the building is fit for occupation.

The aim is to improve accountability, facilitate early risk identification and ensure ongoing compliance.

It’s also important to create a clear trail of information throughout a building’s lifecycle – something which is often referred to as the ‘golden thread of information’.

As a contractor we concentrate on gateways 2 and 3, although we can advise clients on the design and materials specification for gateway 1, the accountability here lies with them so it’s crucial they understand their responsibilities.

The idea is that at any point in the future all the information about works that have been done previously, including products used and their expected lifespan, even who signed it off would be readily available and accessible, removing any guesswork.

But we must all play our part to supply reliable information at every stage if we’re to accurately maintain the golden thread of information and this is where having access to good quality reliable data is crucial.

How to maintain the golden thread through refurbishments

Typically, the projects we tend to work on are refurbishments rather than new build which brings a different set of challenges.

When we’re working with existing products it’s important to understand how they will interact with each other.

A critical stage is to undertake client surveys before works start and pick up any fire risks to identify any defects before works start.

Passive Fire Protection (PFP) measures ensure the building structure is protected so that in the event of a fire, the spread of flames, smoke and toxic gases are contained long enough for safe evacuation and emergency response.

But by their very nature PFP products are typically hidden from sight so regular checks are needed to maintain and ensure they’re up to standard and performing as intended.

Scheduled maintenance dates, particularly for fire doors, should be integrated within the golden thread.

We have robust procedures in place and use the Onetrace software app which allows us to easily track everything from start to finish – including uploading installation photos.

Working with third party accredited industry bodies and associations such as BM Trada and the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) and FIRAS offers clients peace of mind that appropriate procedures are in place to ensure works completed are complaint and fit for purpose.

As a BM Trada registered contractor, we are subject to regular spot checks and audits conducted at random to make sure we’re maintaining the golden thread and doing our due diligence across the board or risk losing our BM Trada registered status.

We use BM Trada products, or ones from our trusted supply chain, to ensure all materials we work with will provide the required level of fire protection, looking at all individual components as a system within the building.

The essence of the golden thread of information is to ensure full transparency at all stages including factoring in future planned and reactive maintenance programmes.

This is really important with PFP as products could be compromised which would negatively impact their effectiveness so anyone undertaking future works must be aware of what PFP measures are in place and how to work around them effectively.

As part of the Building Safety Act, any changes need to be notified with the Building Safety Regulator.

A collaborative approach to training and knowledge-sharing

One of our responsibilities as a main contractor is that we must show evidence of competency.

This means that keeping up to speed with training and being aware of changes to products or materials being specified is crucial.

It’s also vital as a contractor that we bring our clients and supply chain partners on the journey with us to ensure we all feed into the golden thread of information to make it as data-rich as possible.

It will only work if there is buy-in from all parties.

For a project to be PFP certified carries with it caveats for clients to uphold – there are certain things they need to do and that’s something we’re working closely with clients to make sure they fully understand their responsibilities to maintain the certification.

We’ve been working with some of our social housing and local authority clients to offer training.

We’re also guiding clients on the nuances of the Building Safety Act, and we’re able to offer a Building Safety Act training course outlining clearly where different responsibilities lie.

It’s about joining the dots with the client, designers, product manufacturers and installers so that nothing falls between two areas.

As an industry we must collaborate, share information to uphold the golden thread and make sure our buildings are built and maintained to the highest standards.

The responsibility for building safety ultimately lies on all our shoulders.

This was originally published in the March 2026 Edition of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE copy, click here.

England audit data shows persistent fire safety compliance gaps

by ResearchSafety

Fire safety audit findings across England

Almost half of audited purpose-built blocks of flats were rated unsatisfactory in fire safety checks across England, with 45% requiring remedial action to meet regulations.

The figures were analysed by Drax Technology using data released by Fire and Rescue Services for the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.

A total of 4,257 buildings over four storeys were audited, with 1,923 failing to meet required standards.

There are around 120,000 buildings of this size across England.

Audits assess records, fire safety equipment and management practices to identify compliance issues.

Each audit is graded as satisfactory or unsatisfactory.

The Responsible Person is required to maintain the validity of the audit, particularly following changes such as structural alterations.

Enforcement action and audit ratings

The proportion of unsatisfactory results fell slightly from 49% in the previous year.

Fire and Rescue Services issued 445 enforcement notices requiring building managers to address identified deficiencies within a set timeframe.

Twenty buildings were served with Prohibition Notices, where serious and imminent risks to life meant all or part of the premises could not be used.

Six cases led to prosecution after failures to complete required remedial actions.

Less serious breaches were addressed through informal notifications.

The data also showed that 34% of high-rise buildings of 10 storeys or more received an unsatisfactory audit.

Drax Technology comments on compliance records

David Simpson, Group Product Director at Drax Technology, said: “Blocked escape routes, failing emergency lighting, and faulty alarms are too often pushed down maintenance lists until a fire exposes the devastating consequences.

“Under the Building Safety Act, compliance can no longer be assumed, it must be proven.

“Building managers across BTR, the PRS and social housing, now need clear evidence of what was inspected, when, and by whom.

“Gaps in record-keeping represent a serious operational, financial, and regulatory risk.”

Simpson said the analysis highlighted both non-compliance and limited visibility over whether fire safety standards were consistently being met.

“There is no room for uncertainty when it comes to resident safety,” Simpson said.

“Digital platforms can give property teams constant oversight of fire safety systems, allowing issues to be identified and resolved before inspections, or worse, before an emergency.”

He added that 34% of high-rise buildings of 10 storeys or more receiving an unsatisfactory audit reflected the added complexity of these buildings.

“High-rise buildings pose greater risks because fire fighter access is more complex, so robust and consistent fire safety measures are critical,” he said.

“The industry must step up and do better.”

The data set used for the analysis was FIRE1202.

New BESA certification scheme targets ventilation hygiene compliance under Building Safety Act

by Building ManagementFeatured NewsSafetyTraining

Compliance pathway launched for ventilation hygiene contractors

The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has launched VHR Air, a certification pathway for ventilation hygiene contractors to demonstrate professional and technical competence and compliance in line with the Building Safety Act.

BESA said the process was created by its certification scheme, the Ventilation Hygiene Register (VHR), and is based on its industry standard TR19.

The scheme is described as a third party verified and auditable route for demonstrating competence, compliance and best practice in ventilation hygiene services for air systems.

The launch includes a new ‘air work type’ intended to reflect the Act’s principles, including competence assurance, transparency, traceability and the need for a transparent ‘golden thread’ of information.

What VHR Air verifies and why it was created

BESA linked the launch to continued regulatory focus on building safety, indoor air quality and system performance following the introduction of the Act in 2022.

The Association also said demand for specialised ventilation hygiene services had increased, which it connected to awareness of fire and health risks from poorly maintained ventilation systems.

Chris Major, BESA’s head of compliance, said: “Ventilation hygiene plays a vital role in maintaining good indoor air quality and building performance.

“Duty holders must be able to evidence that this work has been carried out by competent, compliant contractors and in line with recognised industry standards.”

Major added: “Compliance with TR19 is increasingly important for those enforcing the legislation and for the insurance industry, so having fully trained operatives is crucial for contractors working in this area.”

TR19 was first developed by BESA in 1998 and has been updated since, with the standard’s guiding principle described as achieving a defined, measurable level of cleanliness intended to improve safety and comfort in buildings.

The VHR Air work type is designed for contractors delivering ventilation hygiene work to general ventilation systems and is intended to independently verify that work is carried out in line with recognised standards including TR19 Air, that individuals undertaking and supervising work are competent for the scope delivered, and that documentation and reporting support building safety and compliance obligations.

How BESA frames the scheme for contractors and clients

Major said: “The Act has fundamentally changed expectations around competence and accountability.

“VHR Air is a practical mechanism for contractors to provide evidence that their ventilation hygiene work meets those expectations, while giving clients and duty holders greater confidence and assurance.”

BESA said the scheme offers contractors third party validation that can strengthen procurement submissions, satisfy insurance requirements and reduce risk through improved audit trails.

It also said clients and duty-holders who specify a VHR Air approved contractor can have confidence that ventilation hygiene work aligns with recognised best practice and contributes to safer, healthier buildings.

Ian Gregory, managing director of IAQ Services and chair of BESA’s Ventilation Hygiene Group, said VHR Air was an excellent way for companies of all sizes to prove their credentials.

Gregory added: “This is the latest step in improving the professionalism of our sector and shows that we take our wider building safety responsibilities very seriously.

“It is crucial that clients can differentiate between those firms who have taken the trouble to invest in their people and processes so they can meet the highest standards, and those who are prepared to ignore their obligations to building occupants.

“A third-party scheme like this should provide them with all the reassurance they need when looking to specify properly qualified specialists.”

Rachel Davidson, BESA’s director of specialist knowledge, said: “The Building Safety Act is about accountability and assurance not additional bureaucracy.

“Industry led certification schemes, built on recognised standards, give contractors a practical way to evidence both individual competence elements and organisational capability, while providing clients and duty holders with confidence that the work is being carried out safely and consistently.

“VHR Air provides a timely, clear and auditable route to compliance at a point where awareness is improving and expectations across the sector are rising”.

BESA said VHR Air was built on the established VHR Grease scheme and that evidence gathered through VHR Air would support ongoing dialogue with the Building Safety Regulator as the industry responds to changes in regulation.

AEI Cables urges cabling beyond minimum safety requirements in modern buildings

by Featured NewsSafety

Safety and cabling selection in higher-risk buildings

AEI Cables has said cabling choices in modern buildings should meet and exceed minimum safety requirements where there is high risk to people and property.

In a press release, the company referred to recent legislation and guidance affecting electrical and fire safety, including the Building Safety Act 2022.

Stuart Dover, General Manager of AEI Cables, said: “Meeting the legislation and guidance can sometimes seem challenging but the systems powered by these cables – including smoke and heat extraction systems – assist fire services in firefighting and a safe evacuation in the case of life safety.

“This legislation and guidance should be the minimum criteria for relevance in buildings where vulnerable people move about will help firefighters trying to execute a safe evacuation.

“These areas present a higher risk in the event of a real fire and if in doubt those in the supply chain should seek advice. This may mean going beyond the minimum level of cabling to meet this category of relevance but may make all the difference in the event of fire.”

The Act defines higher-risk buildings as those at least 18 metres in height or at least seven storeys containing at least two residential units.

Category 3 Control guidance linked to evacuation and communications systems

AEI Cables also highlighted Category 3 Control fire performance cables identified under the revised British Standard BS8519: 2020 Code of Practice.

The cables are designed to reduce harmful smoke, toxic gases and flame spread in the event of a real fire.

Guidance for Category 3 Control fire performance cables applies to evacuation alarms for disabled occupants in care homes, emergency voice communications systems and voice alarm systems.

Relevant buildings include tall buildings, office spaces, hospitals, shopping malls and stadia.

Certifications, categories and third-party approvals

AEI Cables also referenced its Firetec Enhanced cabling, which has been approved and certified by LPCB to BS8519 (Annex B), Category 3 Control, as well as Category 2 Control.

BS8519 sets out six cable categories, with three covering power cables and three covering control cables, each with survival times of 30, 60 or 120 minutes.

Products supplied by AEI Cables carry approvals from independent bodies including BASEC and LPCB.

The company also holds approvals from organisations including Lloyds, the MoD, Network Rail and LUL and states that it works to international standards around the world.

New compliance resource targets client responsibilities in building safety regime

by Associations and OrganisationsConstructionFeatured NewsSafety

Compliance guide sets out client duties under building safety law

A coalition of construction industry organisations has published new guidance to help clients understand their legal responsibilities under the Building Safety Act and encourage compliance across all projects.

The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) produced the Clients’ Guide to the Building Safety Act with support from eight organisations and backing from the Building Safety Regulator’s Industry Competence Committee (ICC).

The guide responds to concerns that some clients continue to prioritise cost and delivery speed while failing to meet their legislative duties under the Act, which has been in force since 2022.

It is supported by Constructing Excellence, the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), the Construction Clients’ Leadership Group (CCLG), Cast Consultancy, SFG20, the Industry Competence Steering Group, Ackroyd Lowrie and the Safety & Health Engineering Partnership (SHEP).

It explains that the building safety regime applies to all buildings and is not limited to higher-risk or high-rise residential developments.

The document defines the client role, outlines legal duties and describes how compliance must be maintained throughout a project.

It also explains the consequences of failing to meet legal requirements and includes information on processes specific to higher-risk buildings and further resources.

The guidance presents complex legislation in plain English to reduce misunderstanding and support informed procurement decisions.

Jon Vanstone, chair of the Industry Competence Committee (ICC), said: “The Building Safety Act places clear legal duties on clients.

“They set the tone for projects through their procurement decisions, appointments and allocation of resources.

“If those duties are taken seriously and supported by competent appointments and informed oversight, the quality and safety of outcomes will improve.

“If they are not, no amount of downstream control can fully compensate.

“Guidance that helps clients understand both their statutory responsibilities and the practical implications of those responsibilities is therefore welcome, particularly where it aligns with the Regulator’s Principles for Informed Clients and supports consistent cross-industry understanding.”

Guidance aims to support informed procurement and reduce project risks

BESA director of specialist knowledge Rachel Davidson said the guidance was designed to help clients make safer procurement decisions and maintain compliance with legal requirements.

“This is a practical guide designed to help clients navigate the building safety process,” Davidson said.

“It is intended to educate not intimidate by explaining what good looks like so clients can make better, safer procurement decisions that also make sense for their businesses”.

“By following the information in the guide, they can reduce project risks and avoid costly mistakes which lead to expensive delays and re-designs.”

Davidson added that the guide would also help contractors explain legislative requirements and give them confidence to challenge procurement decisions that could affect safety and quality.

“Contractors are duty bound under the legislation to refuse to start work unless they are satisfied that the client is fully aware of their responsibilities.”

Lilly Gallafent, CEO of the Real Estate consultancy Cast, said the guide reinforced the need for clients to take responsibility for long-term building safety outcomes.

“Change needs to start with clients,” Gallafent said.

“Whilst many already do, clients all need to recognise that they have the power to drive a new culture through their supply chains, but they need to be willing to allocate risk fairly and focus on how their decisions will affect the operational life of their buildings.

“Pushing hard for cost savings at the start of a project can, when not managed appropriately, end up being very expensive in the long run and risk needs to be properly assessed and not just pushed down the supply chain.

“This excellent guide reminds us that this is a once in a generation opportunity to bring about meaningful and lasting change to construction procurement for the benefit of the industry and all building users.”

The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) also welcomed the publication and said it would help clients understand their legal obligations under the Act.

Head of client development Linda Stevens said: “The Building Safety Act places responsibilities on both clients and their contractors, and we hear that for many clients it can be a struggle to get to grips with exactly what they are required by law to do.

“Our own Client Guide includes information on building safety amongst other important subjects, and we very much welcome this additional resource from BESA which can help clients in their understanding of what can be complex legislation.

“It can only be through everyone conforming to the Building Safety Act that we will ensure the built environment is safe for every community.”

The guide is available for free download and will be discussed at a building safety briefing event at the Palace of Westminster on May 5.