ECA and FSA respond to Building Safety updates

ECA and FSA respond to Building Safety updates

Leading fire and security services trade body FSA has responded to the latest updates to the Building Safety Act published by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).

These include the technical changes to the Building Regulations and a new regime for the design and construction of higher-risk buildings (HRBs). They also provide details of the new in-occupation safety regime for HRBs. 

Mike Smith, FSA Chair and ECA Technical Director, said:

“These changes reflect the greater demands being placed on fire and security system installers to be more competent. They also bring much-needed clarity to the roles of principal designers and contractors when implementing the new safety regime – it is now clearer who is responsible for what, and when. This encourages accountability, raises standards, and ultimately makes buildings safer for residents.”

“The FSA and ECA contributed significantly to Dame Hackitt’s report, Building a Safer Future, and I am heartened to see our recommendations taking shape and the golden thread concept becoming a reality.”

FSA Members and ECA Members who work in HRBs are advised to read the exclusive guidance notes provided at www.eca.co.uk. Members and engineering services contractors in the wider industry should make themselves familiar with the specific detailed requirements contained within the regulations.

The Building Safety Regulator has developed some new guidance which can be found here.

New ‘Duty Holder’ Regulations that will implement the new building safety regime for England and Wales come into effect on 1 October. The duty holder regulations apply to all building works and new duty holder roles include ‘contractor’ and ‘principal contractor’. It is very important that all ECA Members understand the new duties, and that these have widespread implications and do not apply solely to higher risk premises (where there are additional duties).

To introduce the new duty holder Regulations, which are just part of a wider raft of legislation in support of the Building Safety Act and the new building safety regime in England and Wales, ECA has produced a summary of the new duty holder roles (for contractor and principal contractor) here. Please note these duty holder roles are not the same as the roles (of the same name) required for compliance with the Construction Design and Management Regulations (CDM 2015).