Are you an accountable person for a high-risk residential building (HRB)? Or a property management professional delegated the task of creating the safety case as part of complying with the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA)?
If so, you understand the immense responsibility of ensuring resident safety in high-risk buildings. The BSA aims to improve the safety of higher-risk buildings by requiring registration, safety assessments, and risk mitigation plans from building owners. But, as we all know, this task has in the most part fallen to the property managers. This can seem like a daunting task, especially already having a heavy workload.
At Black Boots, we understand the immense pressure faced by those ensuring resident safety while managing these workloads. The BSA has introduced many new regulations, and one of the key requirements is the creation of a safety case report for the Building Safety Regulator (BSR). Which is part of the Building Assessment Certificate (BAC) application process.
However, you cannot write a Safety Case Report, until you have a Safety Case! That’s why we’re offering a free webinar on Thursday, 9th May 2 PM. We have designed this to equip you with the knowledge and resources you need to navigate the Building Safety Act and prepare a compliant safety case.
The task of preparing a safety case and the inevitable safety case report, is a topic of much debate in the market. Most of all, there is huge debate over when these tasks should be carried out. It’s not surprising that many wish to delay this work as long as possible.
Large numbers of HRBs simply do not have the information that a safety case requires and from which a safety case report could be written. It is desirable for people to delay the costs of filling the gaps as long as possible. But what does the legislation say?
While a timeframe is not explicitly mentioned in the BSA itself, guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) clarifies that the report should be prepared ‘as soon as reasonably practicable’ after the building becomes occupied or you become the PAP. This may provide some flexibility depending on the specific circumstances.
Given that all HRBs were required to be registered with the BSR by 1st October 2023, including confirmation of the PAP, the Safety Case Report and therefore the Safety Case should have been started at the absolute latest on 1st October 2023. This is of course unless there is a strong reasoning as to why not. This is also supported throughout section 4 of the BSA including Section 85(1). This states the PAP for an occupied higher-risk building must prepare a report as soon as reasonably practicable after the relevant time (a “safety case report”). While the HSE emphasises that the Safety Case should be a continuous process for identifying and managing building safety risks.
I would suggest there is a strong legislative case for starting the safety case and safety case report as soon as possible after 1st October 2023. However, if ensuring the safety of residents and meeting the legislative requirements are not sufficient, there are a few other reasons to act now too.
Failing to meet the legislative requirements can have a significant impact on the value and marketability of the property. Including possible consequences for building owners. Potential buyers, for instance, may be wary of buildings that lack a safety case report, as this signifies a lack of transparency and raises concerns about probable fire or structural hazards.
Across the industry, we have already seen requests to see the Safety Case Report from solicitors, both buying and selling. Furthermore, lenders may be hesitant to provide mortgages where buildings do not have a safety case report, effectively making them out of reach for potential buyers. And professional valuers consider safety compliance when appraising a building (which is often routinely completed every 3 months in some cases). So, the absence of a safety case and report will likely result in a lower valuation, reflecting the increased risk and potential future costs for the buyer. Finally, renewing property insurance could become difficult or expensive without a safety case report demonstrating risk management. Not to mention the potential for fines for non-compliance from the regulator.
During this 2-hour targeted webinar we will explore:
- The Building Safety Act 101: We’ll break down the key aspects of the Act, including its purpose, its implications for high-risk buildings (we’ll define what qualifies as “high-risk”), and the importance of starting the safety case process now.
- Your Duties as a Property Manager: You’ll gain a clear understanding of your specific responsibilities under the Act regarding fire safety, building maintenance, and resident communication. We’ll also clarify the roles of the accountable person and principal accountable person, so you can assist them in meeting their obligation, which often means funding remediations or filling key gaps in the safety case.
- Demystifying Safety Cases: We’ll delve into the importance of safety cases for ensuring ongoing building safety. You’ll learn about the essential elements a safety case must include. We’ll also provide practical tips on digitally maintaining your safety case.
- Writing a Safety Case Report: We’ll guide you through the process of submitting the safety case report (SCR) to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) as part of your BAC application. Here, we’ll also introduce you to BB-SCR, our innovative AI solution that streamlines safety case report creation.
By attending this webinar, you’ll receive:
- A comprehensive understanding of the BSA and its implications for your role In creating the safety case.
- Clear guidance on developing and maintaining effective safety cases.
- An innovative approach to writing a safety case report.
- A free PDF safety case checklist for future reference.
Don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity to gain the knowledge and resources you need to comply with the Building Safety Act and ensure the ongoing safety of your residents.
Register for the free webinar today!
We are an AI product company delivering Software-as-a-Service. Designed to solve industry specific challenges that most believe are just too difficult. BB-SCR is our revolutionary AI tool that generates a draft safety case report in under 5 minutes. Developed in conjunction with leading fire engineering companies, BB-SCR both assesses your safety case and streamlines your safety case reporting process.
If you’d like to find out more, click the link to book a 30-minute discussion and demo or visit www.blackboots.uk.