Building Safety Act Awareness course launched

[edit] About the new course

The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has launched a Building Safety Act Awareness course for built environment professionals.

The eLearning course, available via the CIOB Academy will provide essential information on the Building Safety Act 2022 to ensure learners are aware of their own and other duty holders’ responsibilities. It has been produced by Equans in association with Build UK and their members, including Skanska, Willmott Dixon, RLB, Mace and 3B Training.

[edit] Comments on on course development

Paul Young FCIOB, CIOB trustee and head of operational excellence at Equans, has helped develop the course, which he believes will benefit people across all roles within construction. He said: “We are delighted to work with CIOB to deliver this course which I think offers a proactive, effective way to convey how the new Act applies to almost everyone working in the built environment. The Act is not only for those working on higher-risk buildings which is a common misconception.To compliment the legal perspective of the Act, it is important we understand what compliance and competence looks like, why this is the right thing to do and how the Act applies to everyone in practice. The BSA awareness module touches on many different aspects of the built environment, the new bodies created and what it means for the many different roles in contracting, consulting and indeed for the small business owner and sole trader."

Working with my colleagues from Equans and representatives from Build UK, we developed this initial BSA awareness course drawing upon our industry knowledge and experience”.

The 90-minute online course is structured around four key areas, including an introduction to the Building Safety Act 2022, Building Safety Act legislation, roles and scope, and the ‘golden thread’.

Eddie Tuttle, Director of policy, external affairs and research at CIOB, said: “The Building Safety Act is one of the most important pieces of legislation impacting the built environment in a very long time and it is vital people are well informed and able to comply.

[edit] Course summary

The tragic events of Grenfell in 2017, Dame Judith Hackitt’s call for a change in culture in the UK construction industry in her report ‘Building a Safer Future’ and now BSA legislation, brings a clear legal and moral responsibility for all those working in construction to improve and ensure building safety. Learn all about the Act, the legislation, roles and scope covered and how to maintain excellent records.

“A big part of our role here at CIOB is to support our members and the wider industry on adapting to new rules and regulations and to create a built environment which is safe for all. We hope this new course will help those who aren’t currently up to speed, become more comfortable with what the Building Safety Act means for them.”

The course, which is available at the not-for-profit cost of £25 can be accessed on the CIOB academy website Building Safety Act: Awareness - CIOB Academy

[edit] Course overview

The Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA) received Royal Assent on 28th April 2022 and on 1stOctober 2023 Secondary Legislation, enabled by the Act, became law. This also included the deadline by which owners of ‘High Risk Buildings’ were to register their buildings with the newly former Building Safety Regulator (BSR).

This significant legislation is relevant to almost all who work in the construction industry, not just those working with Higher Risk Buildings and it is vital that personal responsibility is taken to make yourself aware of the major and important features of the BSA 2022 and other connected legislation that are now a legal requirement to know in England and how it has an impact on Devolved Countries in the UK.

A major theme that runs through the legislation is the ability to clearly demonstrate competence and compliance. This course will be an essential step to ensure you are aware of your own and other duty holders’ responsibilities. It covers all the essential elements of the act and legislation, an essential step towards compliance.

[edit] Course objectives

By the end of the course you will be able to:

• Be able to demonstrate my competence in relation to the Building Safety Act 2022
• Be able to define relevant legislation around building safety and how that impacts my role
• Be able to describe what is meant by ‘higher risk building’ and define what is in or out of scope
• Be able to demonstrate the importance of digital record keeping and advocate that others show the same diligence and competence

[edit] Course contents

• What is the Building safety Act 2022?
• Building Safety Act Legislation
• Roles and Scope
• Record keeping and the ‘Golden Thread’

[edit] Suitability

This course is intended for everyone involved in the construction industry. It will give an overview of the various changes brought about by the Act and what you really need to know. Whilst not all of the Building Safety Act will apply to the work you do, it’s important to understand that the BSA impacts far more than just High Risk Buildings in construction.

This article appears on the CIOB news and blog site as "Building Safety Act Awareness course launched" dated November 15, 2023. The course details appear on the CIOB Academy website as "Building Safety Act: Awareness".

--CIOB

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• Building Safety Act 2022.
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• CIAT raises concerns about Building Safety Bill.
• CIOB responds to Newsnight report - Trapped: the UK's building safety crisis.
• CIOB reviews the Building Safety Bill.
• ECA calls for stronger competency requirements in Building Safety Act.
• Fire safety bill.
• Golden thread.
• Grenfell Tower fire.
• Grenfell Tower Inquiry.
• Hackitt Review.
• Health and safety for building design and construction.
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