Reducing the Building Safety Act’s organisational burden
2022’s Building Safety Act presents unprecedented legal changes affecting the residential property market and places new and far-reaching obligations, and with that a large number of burdens and document-keeping, on businesses. This webinar looked at how technology and new developments can reduce this burden and help the Accountable Person gain more control, peace of mind and visibility.
David Hills, Senior Director at Ark Workplace Risk, covered these points during the webinar:
Why is technology so integral to the successful application of the Building Safety Act 2022?
The Building Safety Act 2022 (and the subsequent secondary regulations) requires “Accountable Persons” and “Principal Accountable Persons” in respect of HRBs to give prescribed information to:
- the regulator,
- other accountable persons,
- residents,
- other owners and
- other “prescribed persons”
In a manner and form which will be prescribed by regulations…a digital-first approach.
Additionally, the Act (and subsequent secondary regulations) will require “Accountable Persons and “Principal Accountable Persons” to:
- Verify,
- Secure,
- Store,
- Keep up to date, and
- Share
Relevant and proportionate information on Building Safety.
The Golden Thread and technology
The golden thread covers all documentation through
- design,
- construction,
- occupation,
- Refurbishment, and
- ongoing management of a building
It’s not just about the documents. It’s also about the information management processes and systems or platforms used to support building safety.
The Building Safety Case and technology
The safety case is all the information you will use to manage:
- the risk of fire spread
- the structural safety of your building
Some of this information will show how you are:
- preventing fire spread and structural failure in your building
- limiting their consequences
Safety Case Report
The safety case report is a narrative document that summarises your safety case. It identifies your building’s major fire and structural hazards. And it shows how you are managing the risks as far as you can.
The report should give the reader confidence that you:
- have identified your building’s major fire and structural risks
- are managing and controlling them
Accountable Persons and Compliance Reporting
It’s about:
- Proving you know your assets
- Proving you are acting…and acting promptly
- Proving you have the right documents and information
- Proving you are managing safety
- Proving you are manging occurrences and complaints
- Proving your claims of “safety”
To the Regulator, Other AP’s, Residents and Other Relevant Parties.
Technology can help reduce building insurance premiums
We’ve been working with a select group of insurance brokers to support our clients. It’s about telling an advantageous story:
- Proving your claims of safety
- Ability to demonstrate an effective management regime
- Ability to be:
- aware of the actual (rather than perceived) risks
- to show effective and prompt remediation of issues
- to show and demonstrate effective levels and quality of management regime in place
Technology platforms can therefore provide that story.