Building Safety Case Reports

A Building Safety Case Report is a document that demonstrates how fire and structural safety risks in a higher-risk building are being identified, assessed, and managed. Required under the Building Safety Act 2022, the safety case report supports the Principal Accountable Person's application for a Building Assessment Certificate from the Building Safety Regulator.

• Higher-risk buildings (residential buildings at least 18 metres in height or with at least 7 storeys, containing at least 2 residential units)
• As part of the mandatory registration and building assessment certificate application process
• Where the Building Safety Regulator requests safety case information

Apex Fire Engineering prepares safety case reports that present the fire safety case clearly, comprehensively, and in a format that withstands regulatory scrutiny. We draw on our fire risk assessment findings, fire strategy documentation, and specialist surveys to build a coherent safety argument. Our reports are structured around the key building safety requirements and demonstrate how risks are identified, assessed, managed, and reviewed on an ongoing basis.

• Building Safety Act 2022
• The Higher-Risk Buildings (Key Building Information etc.) (England) Regulations 2023 (SI 2023/909)
• The Higher-Risk Buildings (Management of Safety Risks etc.) (England) Regulations 2023 (SI 2023/980)

A comprehensive safety case report including: building description, safety management system summary, identified hazards and risks, control measures in place, residual risk assessment, ongoing management and review arrangements. Supporting documents including fire risk assessments, fire strategy, compartmentation survey findings, and external wall appraisals (FRAEW) as applicable.

What is a building safety case report?

A building safety case report is a structured document that demonstrates how fire and structural safety risks in a higher-risk building are being identified, assessed, and managed. It is a legal requirement under the Building Safety Act 2022 for buildings in England that are at least 18 metres in height or have at least seven storeys and contain two or more residential units. The safety case must be maintained as a living document throughout the building’s lifecycle.

Who is responsible for producing a building safety case?

The accountable person (or principal accountable person where there are multiple) is legally responsible for preparing and maintaining the building safety case. In practice, this is typically the freeholder, management company, or registered provider of social housing. While the accountable person holds the legal duty, they may commission specialist consultants such as Apex to carry out the technical assessment and produce the safety case documentation.

Which buildings require a safety case under the BSA 2022?

The Building Safety Act 2022 defines higher-risk buildings as those in England that are at least 18 metres in height or have at least seven storeys, and which contain at least two residential units. This includes purpose-built blocks of flats, mixed-use buildings with residential floors, and buildings undergoing significant refurbishment. The Building Safety Regulator maintains a register of all higher-risk buildings. Contact Apex if you are unsure whether your building falls within scope.

What must a building safety case include?

A building safety case must include a description of the building and its structural and fire safety systems, an assessment of the building safety risks (both fire and structural), the measures in place to manage those risks, and evidence that those measures are adequate. It must also include key building information as prescribed by SI 2023/909 and demonstrate ongoing compliance with the mandatory occurrence reporting requirements.

What is the deadline for building safety case submissions?

The Building Safety Regulator requires accountable persons to register their higher-risk buildings and prepare safety cases in accordance with the transitional timescales set out in the regulations. Existing buildings must have a safety case in place as part of their registration and ongoing management obligations. New higher-risk buildings require a safety case before occupation. Apex can advise on the specific timescales applicable to your building portfolio.