Building Safety Bill (BSB) – In Bitesize Chunks
As part of our Building Safety Bill series, we look to highlight the main points and break them down into easy to understand chunks and give you a better understanding of how the new bill might affect you.
The changes to the RSO
With the Building Safety Bill coming online, there will be amendments made to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO) – commonly known among many informal channels as the ‘Fire Regs’.
One of these amendments state that the FSO will include the structure, external walls and flat entrances to buildings containing two or more sets of domestic premises (i.e. blocks of flats etc).
Alongside the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Inspector, the BSB has created a new role in the Building Safety Regulator, also from the HSE. Two of their main functions will be; Safety of people in and around buildings and improving building standards.
Industry Competence
Competence requirements are needed for the Principal Contractor (PC) and Principal Designer (PD) and an Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) will soon be published to lay out the details of this. Where higher risk buildings are involved, the BSB provides powers to prescribe certain documents in the form of a signed declaration from the Client to state that they have assessed and are content with the competence of both the aforementioned PC and PD.
Mandatory Occurrence Reporting
Whilst not RIDDOR or pertaining to the 2013 Regulations, mandatory occurrence reporting (MOR) will be a ‘thing’ for higher-risk buildings. All structural and fire safety occurrences that could cause a significant risk to life would need to be reported to the Building Safety Regulator. In a way this is similar to the RIDDOR reporting system.
It is perceived where complex, tall and large buildings are involved, multiple Accountable Persons (AP) will be involved, and, very much like the Duty Holders in the CDM Regulations, there will be a Principal Accountable Person (PAP) who will managed and coordinate any MOR that arises.
Glossary
- BSB : Building Safety Bill
- FSO : Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
- HSE : Health & Safety Executive
- PC : Principal Contractor
- PD : Principal Designer
- ACOP : Approved Code Of Practice
- RIDDOR : Reporting of Injuries, Diseases, and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013
- FSO : Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
- AP : Accountable Person
- PAP : Principle Accountable Person
- MOR : Mandatory Occurrence Reporting
- CDM : Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
About the Author
Craig Douglas
Craig is a British Army veteran with experience working under pressure in challenging circumstances. As part of his Army resettlement, Craig gained employment with Remploy Automotive in Coventry, working with disadvantaged and disabled persons. He found the work rewarding at Remploy and enjoyed working with the people there. He attained competency in internal auditing the company and helped further develop the already robust safety attitude in place.