THSP symbol
Grenfell: Building Safety Act

Building Safety Act: What Contractors Need to Know About Compliance

By Chris Ivey

LinkedIn profile

Building Safety Act: What Contractors Need to Know About Compliance

What is the Building Safety Act?

The Building Safety Act (BSA) was introduced in response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy to improve safety standards across the built environment.

The Act applies to all buildings, but it sets a stricter regime for Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs). These are buildings in England that are:

  • At least 18 metres or seven storeys tall, and

  • Contain at least two residential units.

This regime applies throughout the building lifecycle, covering design, construction, and occupation.

The Role of the Building Safety Regulator

The BSA established the Building Safety Regulator. However, the current process is under review due to delays and inefficiencies, particularly for HRBs.

Reforms being introduced include:

  • A new Fast Track Process to speed up applications

  • Leadership changes

  • Moving the regulator to a new Executive Agency within the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Despite these changes, designers and contractors must continue to comply with the Act.

Compliance and the Common Assessment Standard (CAS)

To demonstrate compliance, many pre-qualification schemes now require evidence of meeting BSA duties.

The Common Assessment Standard (CAS), developed by Build UK, provides an industry-agreed set of questions and standards for supplier pre-qualification.

Several SSIP schemes already offer CAS-aligned certification, including:

  • CHAS Elite

  • Constructionline Gold and Platinum

  • Achilles Building Confidence Gold CAS Desktop and Site Supplier options

CAS Version 4: Building Safety Requirements

CAS Version 4 includes a building safety section. This assesses whether companies can fulfil their duties under the Building Safety Act.

This section is increasingly used by clients and contractors to verify competence and compliance within supply chains. By the end of 2025, this requirement is expected to become mandatory for certain projects.

Contractor Duties Under the Building Safety Act

The BSA places a duty on those appointing individuals or organisations for design and construction work to ensure competence.

For contractors and principal contractors, this means:

  • Demonstrating compliance with building safety regulations

  • Ensuring subcontractors also meet requirements

  • Creating and maintaining the “golden thread” of building safety information during construction

Failure to comply can result in legal penalties and project delays.

Training and Competence Requirements

Assessors are increasingly asking organisations to provide evidence of fire safety awareness training for their teams.

One free option is the CITB Fire Safety in Buildings online course: Fire Safety in Buildings (CITB)

In addition, companies must show they have organisational capability through building safety policies and arrangements. These arrangements should demonstrate how they plan, manage, and monitor both staff and subcontractors.

The “Golden Thread” of Building Safety Information

During the construction phase of HRBs, duty-holders (including principal contractors) must create and maintain a digital record of safety information, known as the golden thread.

This record must be:

  • Accurate

  • Updated as changes occur

  • Handed over to the building owner or client at project completion

Key Takeaways for Contractors

  • The Building Safety Act emphasises competence, compliance, and accountability across the building lifecycle.

  • Contractors and principal contractors have clear duties, including managing safety, adhering to regulations, and maintaining accurate safety records.

  • CAS is becoming a vital tool for demonstrating compliance.

  • Non-compliance carries serious risks: fines, project delays, and reputational damage.

  • By late 2025, the CAS building safety section will become mandatory on many projects.

How THSP Can Help

For THSP customers, at your next policy review, you will be asked about your role under the Building Safety Act.

If you need support sooner — or if you are applying for accreditation under the Common Assessment Standard — speak to your THSP account executive. They can arrange a consultant call to help you:

  • Understand your duties

  • Prepare policies and arrangements

  • Demonstrate compliance with the Act

If you are not yet a THSP customer but would like expert support with Building Safety Act compliance or CAS accreditation, contact us today and we’ll connect you with one of our consultants.