Volunteers Needed for Improving Building Regulations Guidance

VOLUTEERS from the construction industry are being requested to help improve Building Regulations guidance.

Findings from volunteers will feed into the fundamental review of how building regulations guidance is produced, updated, and communicated to the construction industry that is underway by the Building Safety Regulator (BSR).

The review is of guidance to the building regulations contained in Approved Documents (ADs). ADs were criticised in the Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 report, which said they were too complicated and difficult to use.

Now BSR, part of the Health and Safety Executive, is working on how to best provide clear, easy to understand guidance to the building regulations. The aim is to simplify guidance, making compliance easier and improving safety and quality in construction.

BSR is exploring how to make the guidance:

• Easier to understand and use.
• Regularly updated to keep up with new technologies and practices.
• More accessible, especially for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).

The goal is to ensure that everyone who uses to the guidance can rely on it to be clear, accurate, and practical.

Industry Volunteers Needed

The Building Safety Regulator’s Technical Policy team has established a review panel which is asking for volunteers from industry to research how ADs are used in practice.

It wants to find out from the construction industry who uses ADs, how they are used and where they are used.

It also wants know what industry perceptions are of the ADs, any barriers to use and potential solutions.

BSR is seeking input from construction professionals with experience of working in different roles in the built environment.

Have Your Say

This is an opportunity for you, or people you know, to help to develop the ADs.

BSR wants to hear from a broad range of people including:

• Building control professionals
• Architects, designers, engineers & fire safety consultants
• Product manufacturers
• Developers and clients
• Contractors and tradespeople
• Representatives of consumers / homeowners

The research will be conducted by independent company Verian online via Zoom in a 60-minute discussion, at a time convenient for participants in February.

As a thank you for taking part in this research, participants will receive £100, which you can choose to take as a payment, donate to charity or refuse.

If you, or someone you know, meets the description of who BSR is looking for and are interested in getting involved, please email Marios Zampetis at marios.zampetis@veriangroup.com to express your interest.

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