Consultations on implementing the new building control regime for higher-risk buildings and wider changes to the building regulations for all buildings have been announced by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities (DLUHC).
The consultations opened on 20 July, and are due to close on 12 October 2022, with relevant experts including fire safety professionals, bodies, and associations invited to participate.
Consultation on implementing the new building control regime and wider changes to Building Regulations
This consultation covers proposed changes to building regulations under part three of the Building Safety Act 2022 and seeks views on policy proposals for legislation the government intend to introduce to create the building control procedure for higher-risk buildings, as well as wider changes, to improve the building control system overall.
The government is seeking to ensure building regulation is fit for purpose across the built environment and where appropriate will apply new approaches in the Act to all building work, not just those in the scope of the new regulatory regime for higher-risk buildings.
Scope
This consultation seeks views on:
- new duty holder and competence requirements on all building work and additional duties for those working on higher-risk buildings.
- new hard stops to strengthen building control for higher-risk buildings before a building is occupied.
- the approach to Regulator’s notices to support building projects which comprise both higher-risk building work and non-higher-risk building work.
- additional requirements for building work carried out in existing higher-risk building work e.g. refurbishments.
- stronger change control during the construction of higher-risk buildings.
- the process of certifying building work that has been carried out without building regulations approval (regularisation).
- establishing greater record-keeping and management in higher-risk buildings (golden thread).
- a mandatory occurrence reporting system in higher-risk buildings.
- stronger enforcement and sanctions for all building work.
- wider changes to the building regulations to align the existing system with the new system.
- commencement of building work and transitional provisions for changing to the new higher-risk building regime.
Consultation on safety regime for occupied higher-risk buildings
The Building Safety Regulator will enforce the new regime and oversee compliance
This consultation seeks views on policy proposals for the in-occupation phase for higher-risk buildings in the scope of the new, more stringent building regulation regime, covering the proposed changes under part 4 of the Building Safety Act.
The Building Safety Regulator (part of the Health and Safety Executive) will enforce the new regime and oversee compliance, placing legal responsibilities on duty holders responsible for commissioning building work, design, and construction, and accountable persons responsible for managing fire safety in occupied higher-risk buildings.
Scope
This consultation seeks views on:
- registration and certification.
- accountable person(s).
- safety case approach.
- mandatory occurrence reporting.
- residents’ voice and duties on residents.
- golden thread contents and how this is stored and managed.
- duties on the accountable person(s) and principal accountable person to share information.
- appeals and enforcement.
- key building information.
