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A new campaign to encourage clients to speed up adoption of building safety standards has been launched by a coalition of construction industry organisations.
New guidance produced by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) and supported by eight other bodies* has been published with the backing of the Building Safety Regulator’s Industry Competence Committee.
BESA’s Client’s Guide to the Building Safety Act is a response to growing concerns that many clients are still basing procurement decisions primarily on cost and speed of delivery and avoiding their legislative responsibilities to improve safety and sustainability.
BESA research, published late last year, highlighted that many clients were either unaware or choosing to ignore their legal responsibilities under the Act, which has been in force since 2022.
The new guidance sets out clients’ legal duties and emphasises their leadership role in the industry transformation needed to keep all building occupants safe and protect their long-term health and wellbeing. It reiterates the message that the new building safety regime applies to ALL buildings, not just higher risk (HRB) or high-rise residential developments.
The guide also boils down the complexity of the legislation into simplified guidance using plain English and avoiding the overload of information that can lead to important messages being misunderstood or ignored.
Jon Vanstone, Chair of the Industry Competence Committee (ICC), which advises the Building Safety Regulator, said BESA’s guide was a timely reminder of the central role clients play in delivering compliant and safe buildings.
“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.
“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 BESA Client’s Guide defines ‘Who is the Client’ and the legal requirements of that role. It sets out the client’s duties and how they can ensure their project remains compliant at every stage and the potential consequences of failure. It also explains the specific rules and processes required for HRBs, how to avoid common problems and further resources available.
“This is a practical guide designed to help clients navigate the building safety process,” said BESA’s Director of Specialist Knowledge Rachel Davidson. “It is intended to educate not intimidate by explaining what good looks like so clients can make better, safer procurement decisions that also make sense for their businesses.
“By following the information in the guide, they can reduce project risks and avoid costly mistakes which lead to expensive delays and redesigns.”
She added that the Client’s Guide would also help contractors and other supply chain members explain some of the key elements of the legislation to their clients and emphasise the importance of only appointing competent people and companies to work on their projects.
“It should also give contractors the confidence to challenge decisions and point out errors in procurement that can compromise safety and quality,” said Davidson. “Contractors are duty bound under the legislation to refuse to start work unless they are satisfied that the client is fully aware of their responsibilities.”
The BESA Client’s Guide to the Building Safety Act is also supported by Constructing Excellence, the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), the Construction Clients’ Leadership Group (CCLG), Cast Consultancy, SFG20, The Industry Competence Steering Group, Ackroyd Lowrie and the Safety & Health Engineering Partnership (SHEP).
