BUILDING SAFETY CASE
WHAT IS A BUILDING SAFETY CASE?
A Building Safety Case is a collation of necessary building information, it is used to manage the risk of the spread of fire or structural failure in high-rise buildings. It’s mandatory for buildings with at least 7 storeys or exceeding 18 metres. The accountable person, usually the building owner, is responsible for creating and maintaining the safety case.
KEY COMPONENTS OF A BUILDING SAFETY CASE
The Building Safety Act 2022 required Accountable Persons of a building to collect, store and maintain all the building information, also known as the golden thread of information. This collation of information should include (but not limited to): the basic information of the building, including a description of the building and surrounding areas; a details emergency evacuation strategy; details of the Mandatory Occurrence Reporting system in place; how your safety management system will manage the safety risks in your part of the building, including details of how risks are managed while work is undertaken.
BUILDING SAFETY CASE CHECKLIST
Download our FREE Safety Case Checklist. This comprehensive checklist guides you through all the essential information you should maintain in your safety case, making the process smoother and more efficient.
THE SAFETY CASE REPORT
A buildings Safety Case Report is a mandatory document that summarises the buildings safety case, providing a snapshot of the buidling within that specific period of time. To learn more about Safety Case Reporting, visit our dedicated page.
THE BUILDING SAFETY ACT 2022
The Building Safety Act 2022 was instituted following the tragic Grenfell Tower incident. Enacted in April 2024, it specifically targets high-risk buildings, typically those over 18 meters (or 7 stories). This legislation introduces a robust framework that includes stringent fire safety standards, enhanced resident rights, and heightened accountability across building design, construction, and management sectors. Its primary objective is to enhance residential safety and empower residents by amplifying their influence in fire safety decisions.
THE BUILDING SAFETY REGULATOR
The Building Safety Act established a new regulator – the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) – within the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The BSR not only regulates these high-risk residential buildings. But also works to improve the overall safety standards for all buildings. They achieve this by providing resources and support to professionals in design, construction, and building control, helping them enhance their competence and ensure buildings are safe throughout their lifecycles.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABLE PERSONS
All occupied high-rise residential buildings must have one clearly identifiable Accountable Person (AP), known as the Principal Accountable Person (PAP). They are responsible for ensuring that fire and structural safety is being properly managed for the whole building.
As well as their duties as an accountable person, the principal accountable person must:
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- register existing high-rise buildings with the Building Safety Regulator
- register all new buildings and receive a completion certificate before they are lived in
The key factor in determining who is the PAP lies in ownership and maintenance responsibility for the buildings common parts and external wall, not necessarily the overall risk profile of the building.
WHAT IS A HIGH-RISE BUILDING
A building is considered higher risk if it is occupied, meets a certain height (at least 18 meters) or number of floors (at least 7), and has at least two residential units.