Building Safety Cases – How To Navigate

A Building Safety Case is a comprehensive set of documents, records and supporting evidence required for higher-risk residential buildings in England. Its purpose is to show how fire and structural safety risks are being identified, assessed, managed and monitored throughout a building’s lifecycle.

The Building Safety Case should not be a one-off set of documents. Instead, it should be a continuing record of how the building is being kept safe. It brings together key information about the building, its safety systems, management arrangements, and the measures in place to protect residents.

A summarised Building Safety Case Report must be prepared by the Principal Accountable Person and submitted to the Building Safety Regulator when requested. This report should clearly explain the current building safety risks and how they are being appropriately managed.

The requirement applies to higher-risk buildings, also known as HRBs. These are multi-occupancy residential buildings in England that have at least two residential units and are either:

• At least 18 metres in height
• At least 7 storeys high

These buildings fall under the higher-risk building regime introduced by the Building Safety Act 2022.

A Building Safety Case Report is a clear summary of the wider Building Safety Case. While the full safety case may include a large amount of detailed evidence, the report should present a structured argument that shows the Building Safety Regulator how risks are being managed.

It should explain:

• What the building is
• What the main fire and structural risks are
• What measures are in place to control those risks
• Who is responsible for managing them
• How safety information is kept up to date
• How residents are informed and involved

The report should be easy to follow, evidence-based and specific to the building. It should not simply describe generic safety arrangements. It must show how risks are managed in that particular building.

When preparing a Building Safety Case Report for the Building Safety Regulator, it should include a structured argument covering the following areas:

Below is a handy infographic to summarise the safety case report requirements:

The Building Safety Act 2022 was introduced following the Grenfell Tower tragedy and created a new framework for managing safety in residential buildings, with a focus on higher-risk buildings.

Its purpose is to improve accountability across the design, construction and occupation of buildings. For occupied higher-risk residential buildings, it places clear duties on Accountable Persons and Principal Accountable Persons to manage fire and structural safety risks.

The Act also supports the golden thread of information. This means key building safety information must be collected, stored, maintained and kept up to date so that the right people can access accurate information when needed.

The golden thread is a central part of the building safety regime. It refers to the accurate, up-to-date information needed to understand a building and keep it safe. The Building Safety Case is a part of the golden thread of information.

This information may include:

• Building plans and design details
• Fire and structural safety information
• Maintenance records
• Safety system details
• Risk assessments
• Emergency arrangements
• Change management records
• Details of repairs, refurbishments and alterations

The golden thread should support better decision-making throughout the building’s lifecycle. It also helps Accountable Persons and the Principal Accountable Person demonstrate that risks are being managed properly.

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) is responsible for overseeing the safety of higher-risk buildings and has the power to assess Building Safety Case Reports. It also plays a wider role in improving safety standards across the built environment by supporting competence, setting expectations and regulating key parts of the building control system.

For higher-risk buildings, the BSR can request a Building Safety Case Report and assess whether the Principal Accountable Person is properly managing building safety risks.

Under the Building Safety Act 2022, an Accountable Person is an individual or organisation that owns or has a legal obligation to repair or maintain the common parts of a higher-risk building.

Common parts usually include shared areas used by residents, such as:

• Corridors
• Lobbies
• Stairwells
• Lifts
• Other shared access areas

Accountable Persons are responsible for assessing and managing fire and structural safety risks in the parts of the building they are responsible for.

Every occupied higher-risk residential building must have one clearly identifiable Principal Accountable Person, also known as the PAP.

The Principal Accountable Person has overall responsibility for ensuring that fire and structural safety risks are properly managed for the building. In many cases, this will be the organisation or person responsible for the structure and exterior of the building, including the common parts.

As well as their duties as an Accountable Person, the Principal Accountable Person must:

• Register existing higher-risk buildings with the Building Safety Regulator
• Register new higher-risk buildings before they are occupied
• Prepare and update the Building Safety Case Report
• Apply for a Building Assessment Certificate when required
• Maintain the golden thread of information
• Operate or oversee systems for managing building safety risks

The key factor in identifying the Principal Accountable Person is ownership and maintenance responsibility for the building’s exterior walls. It is not simply based on who has the greatest operational involvement or who appears to manage the highest level of risk.

A Building Safety Case is important because it demonstrates that building safety is being actively managed, not assumed.

Under the Building Safety Act 2022, a compliant safety case is required to support the Building Assessment Certificate process. The Building Safety Regulator can assess the report to decide whether the arrangements for managing fire and structural safety risks are suitable.

Failure to prepare or provide a suitable Building Safety Case Report when required can lead to enforcement action and legal consequences.

More importantly, a well-prepared safety case helps protect residents by making sure risks are understood, responsibilities are clear and safety information is properly maintained.

To begin compiling your Building Safety Case or to better understand your legal duties, refer to the following official resources:

• GOV.UK guidance on preparing a safety case report
• GOV.UK guidance on Accountable Persons and Principal Accountable Persons
• Health and Safety Executive guidance on the Building Safety Regulator
• GOV.UK guidance on registering higher-risk buildings
• Official Building Safety Act 2022 legislation

Last Updated: 15th May 2026