The Building Engineering Services Association, in partnership with eight other bodies, including the CIOB, provides clients with new comprehensive advice on following new requirements
The new BESA safety guidance, titled BESA’s Clients’ Guide to the Building Safety Act, is aimed at avoiding clients focusing too much on speed and cost, while neglecting legislative responsibilities.
The guide has been produced in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), Constructing Excellence, the Construction Clients’ Leadership Group (CCLG), Cast Consultancy, SFG20, The Industry Competence Steering Group, Ackroyd Lowrie, and the Safety & Health Engineering Partnership (SHEP).
The guidance includes legal duties
As well as the client’s legal duties, the client’s leadership role in industry transformation is also emphasised, highlighting what is needed of the client to protect building occupants’ long-term health.
While recent focus has been on higher-risk and high-rise buildings, this guidance puts forward advice for all buildings by simplifying complex legislation and putting data and information into an easily-digestible format.
Jon Vanstone, chair of the Industry Competence Committee (ICC), which advises the Building Safety Regulator, said: “The Building Safety Act places clear legal duties on clients. They set the tone for projects through their procurement decisions, appointments and allocation of resources.
“If those duties are taken seriously and supported by competent appointments and informed oversight, the quality and safety of outcomes will improve. If they are not, no amount of downstream control can fully compensate,” said Vanstone.
“Guidance that helps clients understand both their statutory responsibilities and the practical implications of those responsibilities is therefore welcome, particularly where it aligns with the Regulator’s Principles for Informed Clients and supports consistent cross-industry understanding.”
The guide can be found in full for free here.
CIOB is also focusing on safety this year
Earlier this month, the Chartered Institute of Builders (CIOB) CEO, Dr Victoria Hills, wrote for PBC Today exploring the institute’s plans for 2026.
Dr Hills wrote: “One of our three key themes is pushing quality and safety as a priority and these are clearly critical industry-wide issues. Many people will be keeping an eye on government-level policy developments, such as the recently published Single Construction Regulator Prospectus, outlining proposals to reduce fragmentation in how the construction sector is regulated. There will also be a further call for evidence to understand the role of the professions in driving change, expected in the spring.
“We also still await the results of a number of important government consultations that we responded to in 2025.
“Closer to home, we are adjusting our CPD policy to further ensure the competence of our current members and fellows and those on the path to chartered membership. Our CPD policy is regularly reviewed to ensure it is fit-for-purpose in a constantly evolving industry and the focus on reflective practice and clarity about the required hours should provide more consistency and ease of recording for our members.”
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