BSR summer ebulletin updates

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has distributed a June ebulletin, the contents of which are summarised below:

Building Assessment Certificates (BACs)

The BSR is looking to carry out additional assessments of buildings meeting the following criteria:

• over 30 to 49.99 metres high with more than 11 residential units
• 18 to 29.99 metres high with more than 378 residential units

Principle Accountable Persons (PAPs) preparing to apply for a BAC are advised to access the BSR’s online resources and guidance here.

Local authority guidance on multi-disciplinary teams (MDTs)

MDTs are made up of professionals from various disciplines, including building control, fire specialisms and engineering. The BSR assigns MDTs to every higher-risk building (HRB) project to advise on decisions made in relation to its assessment.

For local authorities, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has now published guidance on:

• how local authorities can work with and alongside MDTs
• what the BSR can request
• what competence and experience levels the local authorities should provide, and when

Access that guidance via the HSE website.

Rooftop gardens – UK government clarification

Following the First-tier Tribunal decision almost a year ago on roof gardens being considered a storey, an updated notice has been released to clarify the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s position.

Find the updated notice on the government website here and access the existing guidance here.

Useful glossary

The BSR website now includes an A to Z of commonly used terms within the building safety sector. The glossary offers further context and meaning to the terms.

You can find the glossary via the Making Buildings Safer campaign web page.

Views requested

The HSE is currently conducting research into how people use its services so that they can be improved for both public and government use.

As such, it is inviting Registered Building Inspectors (RBIs) and those supporting Registered Building Control Approvers’ registration processes to a one-to-one research session, held online.

The feedback will be anonymous.

Take the first step towards arranging this session by completing the HSE’s online form here.