Post-Grenfell, changes to the Building Regulations mean that clients have a statutory duty to appoint a Principal Designer: Are you covered?
At its most basic, the Principal Designer (PD) role is about compliance. However, an architect – with their training in coordination, user needs, and construction – can offer much more to a project in their fulfilment of the PD role.
The Building Safetey Act
The principles of the Building Safety Act enforce a culture of safety, accountability, and competence, especially in domestic construction. Appointing an effective PD anticipates design risks early, coordinates your consultants (architects, engineers, contractors) and is able to prevent costly, non-compliant decisions.
The safe design delivery of your project is in your hands.
Retaining the Principal Designer through RIBA Stage 5 (construction)
Construction (RIBA Stage 5) often reveals site realities that require design tweaks, making it particularly important to retain your PD throughout this stage. If no PD is retained:
- Design integrity may be compromised
- Safety and compliance may be at risk
- There’s no one to certify that new design decisions are compliant, leading to the client perhaps unintentionally assuming liability
- The entire project could be delayed or rejected by authorities
Design updates still need certification, and that’s the PD’s job. Keeping them on board protects you and your investment.
Need help delivering your project? Get in touch for a quote
How we can help?
Collective Works has taken training on the legislation changes and on designing with safety in mind. We have assisted the NHS, hospitality clients and a UK yoga franchise with their projects. We not only fulfulled the PD duty, but offered additional design assistance including advice during construction.
Our fees
The PD team at Collective Works is led by Partner, Khuzema Hussain. The trio have worked on hospitals, restaurants, office fit-outs, and leisure facilities.
For internal renovations, our fees typically range from £1000 to £3000 + VAT for the PD role defined by the BSA 2022. This fee would assume the client or another party has a design in place and we advise and take liability for it to be compliant. Usually this involves liaising with other designers on the project, Building Control and also the Principal Contractor.
Download a one page pdf about our Principal Designer Service, or get in touch to find out more.
