Building Safety Act & Regulatory Compliance

The Building Safety Act's higher-risk building regime applies to buildings in England that are at least 18 metres in height or have at least seven storeys, and contain at least two residential units. The duties fall on the accountable person (the entity that owns the common parts) and, where there is more than one, on the principal accountable person who coordinates them. Commercial and mixed-use buildings meeting the height threshold may also be in scope depending on their use.

A safety case report is the document that demonstrates, to the Building Safety Regulator, that a higher-risk building's fire and structural safety risks are being managed to a reasonable level. It draws together the building's risk assessments, survey findings, maintenance and inspection records, and the measures in place to manage risk — rather than being a new assessment in itself. The accountable person must keep the safety case current and submit it as part of the building assessment certificate application.

Gateway 1 requires a fire statement to accompany the planning application. At Gateway 2, the Building Safety Regulator must approve the design before construction begins — the approved design and supporting information have to be in place. Gateway 3 then requires a completion certificate from the Regulator before the building can be occupied, with evidence that what was built conforms to the Gateway 2 approved design. Each gateway has specific information requirements; missing them causes programme delays.

Only buildings meeting the higher-risk building definition need a safety case and building assessment certificate. A useful first step is a portfolio triage — identifying which buildings are in scope, prioritising by deadline (registration deadlines have already passed), and sequencing the safety case work proportionately. We can carry out that triage and then work through the priority buildings in a managed programme.