The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) is investigating how the mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) sector is handling changes to building safety
The engineering building safety research is being undertaken by the BESA in partnership with Barbour ABI, and has been commissioned in the wake of the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) being stripped from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).
The removal of the BSR from HSE came as a result of several complaints of a lack of expertise in the built environment, slow and ineffective enforcement, and low visibility and engagement.
A new process for the BSR
Due to the long delays to planning caused by the issues within the BSR, a new process has been implemented by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MCHLG). This process is designed to be faster and get appropriate planning approvals through more quickly.
Up until its removal from HSE, just 10.8% of Gateway 2 new project applications had been approved, according to an FOI request by Cast.
BESA is therefore carrying out the second building safety survey in order to assess how the sector is responding to these rapid and radical changes.
Jon Vanstone, chair of the Industry Competence Committee and advisor to the BSR, said: “BESA’s research comes at an important time because pressure is building to get more projects through planning gateways.
“However, this also raises the stakes around competence and compliance because the industry will still need to meet rigorous safety standards as workloads increase.
“Therefore, any findings that help us understand why companies might be struggling to meet the requirements will be incredibly helpful in shaping our advice to the regulator.”
The survey is aimed at companies of all sizes and in any aspect of building engineering, and will assess awareness levels, understanding of legal responsibilities, and awareness of implications for individual competence and organisational capability.
It is hoped that the findings of the survey will guide future practical support and targeted interventions.
Engineering building safety survey
The research survey will include questions based on role and business type, and will measure ‘real world’ changes in behaviour and practices, while also determining reasons for inaction.
Rachel Davidson, BESA director of specialist knowledge, added: “We want to find out what is preventing organisations from adopting the requirements of the legislation. Levels of awareness and understanding of the Act have improved in the past 12 months, but it is far from a consistent picture.
“We are seeing very big variations by role and type of organisation. Those with greater understanding, particularly of individual competence and organisational capability, are more likely to have taken steps to comply with the Act.
“Where action has not been taken, it is often due to a lack of clarity, guidance, or support. Identifying these barriers will inform targeted interventions to improve industry-wide compliance.”
