New research by NBS finds half of industry professionals are still unclear on duty holder responsibilities for higher-risk buildings under the Building Safety Act
The new study has revealed that half of industry professionals remain unclear on the responsibilities of duty holders for the gateways defined for higher-risk buildings under the Building Safety Act.
Furthermore, only 20 percent of respondents feel confident they are ‘very clear’ on the differences in responsibilities if the project is defined as a higher-risk building.
A greater effort is needed to ensure a universal understanding of the BSA
Russell Haworth, chief executive Officer of UKI at Byggfakta Group, NBS’ parent company, said, “At our Construction Leaders’ Summit last October, Dame Judith Hackitt told the audience, in no uncertain terms, that regulatory change is coming, and it’s unstoppable, so the construction industry needs to be fully prepared.
“Fast-forward to April 2024, and our research shows many specifiers are struggling to get to grips with the requirements, and this needs to be resolved. All designers must have the correct approach to specifications if the industry is to raise the bar on building safety. This includes getting to grips with the ‘nitty gritty’ of the BSA if they want to operate in the new regulatory landscape.”
Only 1 in 10 respondents have a Golden Thread plan in place
Just under half of those surveyed (45%) are clear as to how they will manage building information to realise the Golden Thread, and just one in ten have a solid plan in place.
Dr Stephen Hamil, innovation director at NBS, said: “The level of understanding around the golden thread of information is worrying.
“As well as providing a continuous flow of information throughout the entire lifecycle of a building, it is necessary to ensure all relevant safety-related information is readily accessible and up to date.”
David Bain, research manager at NBS, added: “Consistency is the backbone of progress and the stakes have never been higher when it comes to HRBs. These studies serve to highlight ‘trouble spots’ and importantly, offer an understanding of how to take the industry forward as a whole.”
The full report launches in April 2024.
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