Question 1

What is the building safety regulator?

Accepted Answer

An independent body established by the Building Safety Act to oversee Higher-risk buildings. The Building Safety Regulator is part of the Health and Safety Executive

Question 2

How do I measure the building?

Accepted Answer

The building should be measured from the lowest point of the external area immediately adjacent to the building, to the top of the finished floor level of the highest occupied floor. Do not include storeys or roof tops that are maintenance access only or that are solely for the storage of plant.

Question 3

Who is the Principal Accountable Person?

Accepted Answer

The Principal Accountable Person is the entity that is responsible for the maintenance and repair of the structure and facades of a building. There may be other accountable persons who are responsible for other areas, but the main responsibility lies with the Principal Accountable Person. This responsibility cannot be transferred.

Question 4

What buildings does the Building Safety Act apply to?

Accepted Answer

The Building Safety Act applies to all buildings that require building control approval. However, any hospital, care home, or building with more than one residential unit, which is over 18m or 6 storeys high will be subject to a higher requirement through the regime and will need to go through the gateway process.

Question 5

What is Gateway 2?

Accepted Answer

Gateway 2 is also known as Building Control approval. This is the submission of the full design to the Building Safety Regulator. Once received, the regulator has 12 weeks for a new build, or 8 weeks for works to an existing building, to determine if the submission is sufficient. If the submission is approved then the project can start on site. Work on site cannot start until the Building Safety Regulator has approved the Gateway 2 submission.

Question 6

Is the Principal Designer under the BSA the same as the CDM Principal Designer?

Accepted Answer

The Principal Designer under the BSA is a different role to that of the Principal Designer under CDM. There are some similarities of skills and approach between the two roles and both roles can be delivered by the same entity if the entity possesses suitable competencies for both.

Question 7

What is Gateway 3?

Accepted Answer

Gateway 3 is also known as Completion Certificate application. This is the submission of all information gathered through the design and construction of the building work and is intended to demonstrate that the work has been completed in compliance with Building Regulations.

Question 8

Can I choose who my building control body is?

Accepted Answer

If your building is not a high-risk building, then you can choose who your building control body is, in the same way as normal. However, if your building is a high-risk building then the Building Safety Regulator automatically becomes your building control authority and you cannot choose anyone else.

Question 9

What is the Golden Thread?

Accepted Answer

The Golden Thread is a suite of documents that is gathered from the planning stage all the way through to practical completion. It will demonstrate how decisions have been made, how the design team has ensured that the design is compliant with building regulations, and how the contractor has ensured that they have built in line with the design. It is a full audit trail of the project.

Question 10

I’m a Client, what do I need to do with the new duty holders?

Accepted Answer

You must ensure that you have appointed the new duty holders. If you don’t appoint them in writing then the responsibilities will automatically fall to you. You must also ensure that you are satisfied with the competency of those that are appointed.

Question 11

When the building receives it’s completion certificate, can I occupy it?

Accepted Answer

You must wait for the Building Safety Regulator to determine your application for a completion certificate. This can take up to 8 weeks. Once you have a completion certificate then you must register the building on the BSR online portal before you allow anyone to occupy it.

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