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The Building Regulations changed on the 1 October 2023, along with the implementation of sections of the Building Safety Act 2022. Any building work where Building Regulations are required will be subject to the new Duty Holder Regime.
See the new Building Regulation requirements for Duty Holders. This information will help clients, designers and contractors who are looking at undertaking building projects.
Clients Domestic Clients
The homeowner and not part of any business
Main duties, what they must do
- where there is more than one person working on different aspects of the project, a Domestic Client should appoint a Principal Designer to be in control of design work and a Principal Contractor to be in control of the building work.
- if a Domestic Client does not appoint either a Principal Designer or Principal Contractor, then the designer in control of the design phase of the project is the Principal Designer and the contractor in control of the construction phase of the project is the Principal Contractor.
- must provide building information that they have, or it would be reasonable for them to obtain, to the designers and contractors working on the project.
- must cooperate with anyone working on or in relation to the project to the extent necessary to enable them to comply with their duties or functions.
Clients Larger Commercial
Organisations or individuals for whom a construction project is carried out that is done as part of a business.
Main duties, what they must do
- make suitable arrangements for planning, managing and monitoring a project, including the allocation of sufficient time and resource, to deliver compliance with building regulations. In practice, this means appointing the right people, with the right competencies (the skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours) for the work and ensuring those they appoint have systems in place to ensure compliance with Building Regulations.
- where there are several firms working on different aspects of the project, the Client will need to appoint a Principal Designer to be in control of design work and a Principal Contractor to be in control of the building work.
- provide building information to every designer and contractor on the project and have arrangements to ensure information is provided to designers and contractors to make them aware that the project includes any existing or proposed higher-risk building work.
- cooperate and share information with other relevant duty holders.
Principal Designers
A Designer appointed by the Client in projects. They can be an organisation or an individual with sufficient knowledge, experience, and ability to carry out the role.
Main duties, what they must do
- plan, manage and monitor the design work during the design phase.
- take all reasonable steps to ensure the design work carried out by them and anyone under their control is planned, managed and monitored so that the design is such that, if built, it would comply with all relevant requirements of the Building Regulations.
- ensure that they, and all those working on the project, co-operate, communicate and co-ordinate their work with the client, the Principal Contractor, and other designers and contractors.
- liaise with the Principal Contractor and share information relevant to the building work.
- assist the client in providing information to others.
Principal Contractors
A contractor appointed by the client to coordinate the construction phase of a project.
Main duties, what they must do
- plan, manage and monitor the building work during the construction phase.
- cooperate with the Client, the Principal Designer, and other designers and contractors to the extent necessary to ensure that the work complies with all relevant requirements of the Building Regulations.
- ensure that they, and all those working on the project, co-operate, communicate and co-ordinate their work with the Client, the Principal Designer, and other designers and contractors.
- liaise with the Principal Designer and share information relevant to the building work. Assist the Client in providing information to others.
Change Of Duty Holder
Information must be provided to Building Control following changes to the appointment to duty holder roles. It can be completed by a third party but must be signed by the client.