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Navigating the Building Safety Act's Principal Designer Role

In the wake of tragedies like Grenfell, it's imperative that clients fully appreciate the risks and engage proactively with the new Building Safety Act (BSA) 2022. Without proactive engagement, we cannot expect building safety standards to improve across our housing stock or prevent such tragedies from reoccurring.

The introduction of the Building Safety Act 2022 brings a crucial new role: the Principal Designer (PD) under the building regulations (BR). This mandates the appointment of a PD (BR) for every new project requiring a building regulations application. This shift places a spotlight on clients, emphasizing their responsibility to ensure that projects are built in accordance with approved plans and comply with regulatory requirements.

As qualified Principal Designers, BTP is proud to be part of RIBA's new 'principal designer register' competency scheme. With our expertise in design management and coordination, architects are ideally positioned to fulfil the Principal Designer (BR) role, provided they demonstrate the necessary competencies.

We urge clients to take proactive steps to ensure compliance with the new legislation and to prioritize building safety in all construction projects. To learn more about how BTP can support you in navigating these changes and meeting your responsibilities, please don't hesitate to contact us.

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