Commissioning building work: what clients need to know about safety and compliance
Commissioning building work can feel like something that largely passes to the contractor once the brief has been agreed. But changes introduced through the Building Safety Act and Building Regulations mean clients have an important role in making sure work is properly planned, managed and delivered.
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has published guidance for people commissioning work on behalf of businesses, charities, public bodies and other non-domestic organisations. It is a useful reminder that you do not need to be a construction expert, but you do need to understand your responsibilities.
The challenge: understanding client responsibilities
Building projects can involve a wide range of designers, contractors and specialists. It can therefore be easy to assume responsibility for compliance sits elsewhere.
In reality, decisions made by the client at the outset can influence safety, quality and compliance throughout the project. CIOB’s guidance highlights duties including appointing competent people, providing the information they need, putting appropriate arrangements in place to manage compliance and remaining engaged as the project progresses.
Our view: get the foundations right before work begins
Good project risk management starts before anyone arrives on site. Before commissioning work, businesses should be clear about the project’s scope, understand which regulatory requirements apply and make sure the people appointed to design and deliver the work have the right competence.
1. Do we understand which regulations apply?
Establish whether the work falls within Building Regulations requirements and whether any additional requirements for higher-risk buildings apply.
2. Have we appointed the right people?
Competence should be considered when appointing designers, contractors and other specialists, not simply cost and availability.
3. Have we provided the information they need?
Existing building information, known risks and relevant records can all affect how work is planned and delivered.
4. How will compliance be managed and recorded?
Agree responsibilities, checks, documentation and decision-making processes before the project starts.
5. What could the work change elsewhere?
Alterations can introduce or change existing risks, including fire precautions, access arrangements and other health and safety controls. These should be considered as part of the project rather than once work has finished.
CIOB’s guide includes a pre-project checklist designed to help clients work through many of these considerations.
When further support could help
For organisations that do not regularly commission construction work, knowing what questions to ask can be difficult.
PIB Risk Management can support businesses with project planning and management and risk assessment, helping them identify issues earlier and put appropriate controls in place.
For projects that could affect existing fire precautions, there may also be value in considering fire risk strategy at an early stage rather than treating it as a separate exercise later in the project.
The takeaway for clients commissioning building work
Being the client does not mean you need to know everything about construction. It does mean making sure the right questions are asked, the right people are appointed and risk is considered from the outset.
Source: CIOB – Building Regulations and Building Safety Act advice for clients.
