Building Safety Act triggers cost surge and delays

One in four construction and infrastructure businesses have voiced concerns over increased compliance and project costs because of the Building Safety Act (BSA) 2022, with one in five expressing fears of rising insurance premiums and compliance-related project delays.  The findings are from independent research commissioned by leading IT, construction and infrastructure training company, Synergie Training, which has uncovered the scale of business unrest around the challenges the BSA has brought.

Increased regulation driving delays and design disruptions

The BSA is significantly accelerating compliance costs for the construction sector due to increasing responsibilities, stricter regulations, and a more rigorous regulatory landscape. These changes are impacting project timelines, design processes, and accountability, leading to higher upfront costs and potential delays.

Reflecting elevated liability risk as a result of the BSA, insurance premiums are also steadily on the rise for developers. Whilst 43% of businesses surveyed said they had completed a review of insurance policies to mitigate risks associated with the Act’s provisions, another 43% said there were either planning to or currently in the process of reviewing their insurance policies, to identify where changes are required.  Synergie Training urges these businesses to prioritise the process to avoid exposing themselves to further financial uncertainty at an already challenging time.

Over 300 Health & Safety Directors, Company Directors, Designers, Structural Engineers and Project Managers of construction companies, architects and housebuilders were surveyed on behalf of Synergie Training, with Designers and Structural Engineers proving the most unlikely to have undertaken a review of insurance coverage and Designers and Housebuilders the most likely to be unaware change may be required.

TTC launches Building Safety Act training to support industry compliance

To help businesses navigate the complexities of the legislation, TTC has launched a range of new Building Safety Act training courses, targeted at increasing understanding of The Act and the secondary legislation improving construction competency and meeting safety obligations for high-risk buildings.

“The Building Safety Act represents a step change in the law, fundamentally transforming how the construction sector must plan, build, manage, and occupy, and maintain buildings,” commented Clark Hunter, Sales Director at Synergie Training.

“While there is a common misconception that the Act applies only to higher-risk buildings (HRBs), in reality, the revised regulations and duty holder roles impact the whole construction sector, not just HRBs, and includes all building work that requires building regulations approval, and as such there are only limited exceptions.

“The legislation introduces a more rigorous and demanding regime for the planning, design, construction, and operation of buildings, including new building control gateways, safety case requirements, accountable persons, and the statutory ‘golden thread’ of information throughout a building’s lifecycle.