The role of Principal Designer in a construction project is not what the name might suggest! It is in fact the person or organisation appointed by the client with responsibility for two specific things:
ensuring the project’s design’s compliance with the Building Regulations
overseeing the co-ordination of health and safety matters during the pre-construction phase of a construction project.
The role of Principal Designer is a statutory one, prescribed by the CDM Regulations (2015) and the Building Safety Act (2022). At Lees Associates, we act as Principal Designer for the majority of our projects.
What we do
Appointment
We will explain your duties and obligations as a client under the regulations, and agree the extent of our role.
Designers
We will check that all other appointed designers have sufficient skills, knowledge, experience and the organisational capability to carry out the work. We have a competency questionnaire for this.
Planning
We will plan, manage and monitor Building Regulations compliance and health and safety in the pre-construction phase of the project. This will include identifying, eliminating or controlling all foreseeable risks, and ensuring any appointed other designers fulfil their duties. We will work with the appointed registered Building Inspector to prepare and submit the application for Building Regulations approval. If the project is a Higher-Risk Building (HRB) we will submit to the Building Safety Regulator.
Pre-construction
We will compile the “Pre-construction Information” (PCI), which will summarise the measures taken to mitigate risks, and provide it to all parties, including tendering contractors.
Health & Safety File
We will prepare the draft Health & Safety File and review and update it as the project progresses.
Construction
We will liaise with the Principal Contractor to help in the planning, managing, monitoring and co-ordination of the construction phase, culminating in approving their post-construction Health & Safety File.