How Gsite helps you stay compliant with the Building Safety Act 2022

The Building Safety Act has redefined responsibilities across the construction sector in response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy. Accountability, transparency and trackability are all key ways the Building Safety Act is designed to improve fire safety in the future.

Gsite is a construction project management software which is ideal for helping contractors comply with the Building Safety Act. Read on to learn more about:

• What does the Building Safety Act aim to achieve?
• When do you need to act?
• What do construction firms need to do to achieve Building Safety Act sign off?
• How does Gsite help you meet the Building Safety Act requirements?

What does the Building Safety Act aim to achieve?

In practical terms, it means higher standards in:

• Design
• Construction
• Building maintenance
• Building operation

This is especially true for ‘Higher-Risk Buildings’ (HRBs) which:

• Are at least 18m in height or have at least seven storeys; and
• Contain at least two residential units.

And ‘relevant’ buildings that:

• Are at least 11m high, or have at least five storeys
• Contain at least two dwellings
• Are not a leaseholder owned building

When do you need to act?

The Building Safety Act defines three ‘gateways’ where action is required:

• Gateway 1 – The design stage
• Gateway 2 – Planning permission stage
• Gateway 3 – Completion and handover

All three gateways are ‘hold’ points on a construction project that comes under the Building Safety Act. At each stage your plans and actions will be checked over to ensure they comply with the new fire safety standards, and sign-off must be achieved before you progress.

What do construction firms need to do to achieve Building Safety Act sign-off?

Initially, you must include fire safety measures from the earliest design stage so that they are an integral part of the building. This stops fire safety being overlooked and ends any potential need for retrofitted fire safety measures that may be inappropriate or sub-standard.

Once your initial designs are completed, they must then be followed at planning permission stage. They will receive final Building Control sign off which then commits you to building your development exactly as specified, with fire safety at the heart of the design.

Finally, at completion, you must do the following, as per the RICS website[1]:

• Completion Certificate Application – Developers must submit an application to the BSR seeking a completion certificate, signifying that the building is safe for occupation.
• "As-built" Compliance – The application must reflect the actual construction work (the "as-built" building) rather than just the original design plans.
• Golden Thread – The application must include all relevant "golden thread" information, ensuring that the safety information is accurate, accessible, and up-to-date.
• Building Regulations Compliance – The application must demonstrate that the building work adheres to all relevant Building Regulations.
• Accountable Person – If the certificate is granted, the information is then handed over to the Accountable Person, who is responsible for the building's ongoing safety and producing a building safety case. 

How does Gsite help you meet Building Safety Act requirements?

Gsite is a construction software for Building Safety Act management. It is designed to help contractors comply with this legislation by providing a range of features in both the Gsite Lite and Gsite Pro packages.

These include:

• Cloud-based common data environment – Gsite is a digital ‘single source of truth’ which allows you to share, store and manage unlimited documents with complete control. You can see who has viewed or edited the documents with date, timestamps and access history with just a few clicks.
• Checklists and inspections – Gsite includes tools which allow you to create checklists and carry out inspections to ensure that the built reality matches the signed-off plans. All evidence is stored securely so that you can be confident the reality matches the paperwork.
• Accessible archives – All data is stored in Gsite permanently, even after you move on to the next job. You can pass everything to the ‘Accountable Person’ post-completion and they can access whatever information they need to ensure that they have a complete, true picture of the building.

These features are among those in Gsite which promote accountability, accessibility and trackability at all stages of the design and build. They help to ensure that your project meets the requirements of the Building Safety Act now and in the future.

Learn more about Gsite construction software and how it can benefit you by viewing our blog, then get your free Gsite trial today by contacting our team

[1] https://www.rics.org/news-insights/building-safety-act-faqs