Ferguson Architecture’s Post

🔍 **Understanding the Crucial Role of the Principal Designer under the Building Safety Act (BSA)** 🔍 The Building Safety Act (BSA) has brought significant changes to the construction industry, not least the introduction of the Principal Designer role. This position is not just a title—it's a pivotal part of ensuring safety and compliance. At its core, the Principal Designer's responsibilities revolve around: - 📑 **Meticulous Record Keeping:** Ensuring all documentation is up-to-date & comprehensive. - 🛠️ **Monitoring Best Practices:** Keeping the design process aligned with the highest standards of safety, regulations and standards. - 🧩 **Ensuring Competence:** Verifying that every member of the design team is knowledgeable and produces work which is compliant with the Building Regulations. However, it’s easy to fall into the trap of complacency. Never assume that every designer in the team, your professional indemnity (PI) insurer, or your clients are as well-informed as you. Here’s why we must stay vigilant: 1. **Continuous Education:** Regularly update your knowledge and that of your team on the latest regulatory changes. 2. **Clear Communication:** Maintain open lines of communication with all stakeholders to ensure everyone is on the same page. 3. **Proactive Oversight:** Actively oversee the design process to catch potential issues early and ensure compliance is maintained. To support all of us, both **CIAT** (Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists) and **RIBA** (Royal Institute of British Architects) offer specialised Principal Designer courses and registration. ❓ **Question:** Has anyone taken the CIAT Principal Designer Non-HRBs or HRBs course, or the RIBA Principal Designer course? Which would you recommend and why? The Principal Designer (BSA) role, not to be mistaken for the existing CDM PD role, is not just about overseeing designs but about fostering a culture of safety and compliance that permeates every aspect, of every project. Let’s embrace this responsibility with the diligence it deserves, ensuring our projects are safe, compliant, and successful. #BuildingSafetyAct #PrincipalDesigner #ConstructionSafety #Compliance #BuildingRegulations #DesignTeamExcellence #CIAT #RIBA #Architect #Designer #Construction

Are you up-to-date with your CPD? Interior and Landscape Designers are not mandated to undergo official CPD training, but staying informed about industry trends, new products and techniques is essential for maintaining expertise. Registered Architects, on the other hand, are required by the Architects Registration Board and RIBA to log their CPD activities annually in order to renew their membership. Under the Building Safety Act 2022, ARB is responsible for overseeing the ongoing training and development of architects throughout their careers. In January 2024, ARB introduced a new CPD scheme that requires architects to participate in activities that enhance their professional growth. These activities must be recorded annually along with a reflection on what they have learned and how it applies to their work. Architects have the flexibility to choose their own CPD activities, which can include both formal and informal learning experiences. There is no minimum time requirement for an activity to count as CPD, as long as it contributes to the architect's professional development and can be applied in practice. To find out more, check out https://lnkd.in/eZ39zePD

I've noticed a trend where local builders are nominating architectural designers as the principal designer for building control applications , but the architectural designers' services are often limited to plans only. For those working in domestic residential projects, what are your approaches to the principal designer and dutyholder roles? Are you charging extra fees for project management responsibilities, or are these duties included within your current fee structure and scope of work? I'd love to hear how others are handling this situation. #principaldesigners #buildingregulations

Remember, before you can officially call yourself an Architect in the UK, registration with the ARB (Architects Registration Board) is a must. ☝️ Why? 🤔 Because it's a legally protected title. 👩⚖️ So what's the next step if you’re a fully qualified Architect from outside the UK? 🤷♀️ "If you hold overseas qualifications obtained outside the EU or possess a non-recognized UK qualification, you will need to pass ARB’s Examination for Equivalence to Prescribed Qualifications (also known as the ‘Prescribed Examination’) to progress towards registration as an architect in the UK." In the meantime, you can refer to yourself as an Architectural Designer/Senior Architectural Designer. 🙂 The term "Architectural Designer" is not a protected title in the UK, giving you the freedom to use it. ---- For more information, visit the ARB website - I'll leave the link in the comments. 👇 #ARB #Jobseekers #Architect #Careers 

The word "architect" is protected... ... does it help? And why am I even asking this question? Let me back up a moment and explain. I got an email from a stranger (an architect I've never met or corresponded with before) who expressed concerns about another practice that was using the words "architect" and "architectural" in an advertisement. The writer was questioning whether it was potentially outside the legally protected uses of those words. This is a topic that rankles me too - it strikes me as unfair that in the minds of the public, and your prospective clients - architects, building designers, draftspeople and interior designers are seen as offering similar services and being largely interchangeable. I'm not a lawyer, so I'm not offering legal advice, but this particular email got me thinking deeply about this topic, and I'm still down the rabbit hole! You can see where it's taken me in today's blog post - which you can read here: https://lnkd.in/gpp8Jcxd (It's the first in a series to unpack this topic... so if you find this interesting, be sure to subscribe so you receive Part 2 via email!) #architecture #architect #australianarchitects #architecturemarketing

"What Happens if a Client Fails to Appoint a Principal Designer or Principal Contractor?" . ⬇ . This note applies to building works in connection with a business. What happens if a client fails to appoint a principal designer or a principal contractor under the building regulations? The client must fulfil the duties of the principal designer and principal contractor under the building regulations until someone is appointed to those roles. #ktcl #buildingregulations #clientinconstruction #constructionlaw #principaldesigner #principalcontractor

Building Safety Act: how RIBA's new work templates for the Principal Designer role can help architects 📃 Learn more about what’s available in our new Principal Designer work templates, including Lead Designer Agreements, Notifications of Competence and Client Care letters: https://ow.ly/tFu050RIQhR #BuildingSafetyAct

Are you considering a career in Building Services Design but wondering if you need an advanced degree to get started? In this video, I'll explore the educational requirements and alternative pathways into the industry. I'll discuss the importance of degrees, certifications, and practical experience, and share my insights on how you can enter the field without a high-level degree. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more content 🤛🏼 #recruitmentconsultant #Buildingservices #CIBSE #MEPDesign

This week we have been keeping our continual professional development (CPD) up to date regarding the managing of health and safety in architectural design by taking part in lectures provided by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) about the Building Safety Act 2022 & the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. The CDM Regulations 2015 require that a Principal Designer must be appointed in writing by a client where a project involves, or is likely to involve, more than one contractor, and a Principal Designer should be appointed by a client as early as possible in the design process, and where practicable, at the concept stage of the project. Where Owen & Loyd Architects is appointed as Principal Designer on a project, we are able to carry out the following responsibilities for our clients in compliance with the CDM Regulations 2015: - Plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety in the pre-construction phase. - Help and advise our clients in bringing together pre-construction information, and provide the information other designers and contractors need to carry out their duties. - Work with any other designers on the project to eliminate foreseeable health and safety risks to anyone affected by the work and, where that is not possible, take steps to reduce or control those risks. - Ensure that everyone involved in the pre-construction phase communicates and cooperates, coordinating their work wherever required and liaise with a principal contractor, keeping them informed of any risks that need to be controlled during the construction phase. #architecture #surrey #principaldesigner #owenloydarchitects

A question for Architects, Project Managers, Main Contractors, or other Designers, trying to come to grips with the new 'Building Safety Act' with regards to the 'BR principal designer' ..................... I have a question relating to D&B contracts that I'd be interested to hear of your experience: What is your experience of an Architect (that has designed the scheme), being novated over to the Main Contractor for the construction phase? Are they being novated over to the MC for the detail design with the Main Contractor (who now has control over the design) being appointed by the Client as MC & BR Principal Designer, who then appoints the Architect for the detail design and as an 'advisor' or 'designer' on building regs to them as the MC? Thats my reading of it, but have you seen other arrangements? The RIBA clearly (or maybe not so clearly) states in its guide that: 'As it is a statutory requirement for the client to appoint the principal designer under both sets of regulations (CDM & BR's), it is not possible to novate your appointment (as the architect) to a contractor in connection with a D&B procured project............... ..........but on the same page it also says.......... 'If for any reason you are unable to continue your role as principal designer, for instance if your architect/designer appointment is novated to the contractor for a D&B project.........then you must advise your client that they need to appoint another principal designer'................... It is quite confusing! 😕 Very interested in hearing what’s actually happening in the real world. #buildingSafetyAct #PrincipalDesigner #novation #DesignandBuild