Principal designer

The term principal designer has been used as a general term to describe a designer who leads a team of designers on projects covering a wide spectrum of disciplines from product design to building design.

In terms of the construction of buildings the term Principal Designer more specifically is associated with certain responsibilities and competencies falling under the CDM regulations and more recently the Building Safety Act.

[edit] CDM Regulations

The HSE under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) defines a Principal Designer as:

'an organisation or individual who is appointed by the client (commercial or domestic) to take the lead in planning, managing, monitoring and coordinating health and safety during the pre-construction phase (design and planning stage) of a project involving, or likely to involve, more than one contractor.

A principal designer is the designer (as defined in the Regulations) with control over the pre-construction phase who has the relevant skills, knowledge and experience and where they are an organisation, the organisational capability to carry out all the functions of the role. However, they do not have to carry out actual design work on the project.'

It goes on to say:

'A principal designer has an important role in influencing how the risks to health and safety should be managed and incorporated into the wider management of a project. Design decisions taken during the pre-construction phase can have a significant effect on whether a project is delivered in a way that secures health and safety. The principal designer's role involves close cooperation with the client and the principal contractor, and coordinating the work of others in the project team to ensure that significant and foreseeable risks are managed throughout the design process'

For more information read our article CDM 2015 principal designer duties.

[edit] Building Safety Act

The HSE document 'Building safety competence information for principal contractors and principal designers: Competency standard PAS 8671:2022 and Competency standard PAS 8672:2022' published in October 2022 defines a Principal Designer as:

'an individual or an organisation. They are a designer in control of the design work, and can be, for example: an architect, an engineer (structural and others), a surveyor'

It goes on to give a brief summary of competency under PAS 8671 saying:

'The Building Regulations principal designer (PD) must plan, manage monitor design work, and cooperate, coordinate and communicate to ensure the design work, if built, complies with building regulations. It is important that the principal designer is part of the design team and not a third-party without any influence over design decisions. The principal designer should be able to co-ordinate the design team. It may help the principal designer to keep a record of designers and their responsibilities across a project. A principal designer is not expected to be an expert in every design specialism, but they are expected to know enough about the building regulations to assess whether a building design will comply with all relevant regulations. principal designers should support others, for example, in being able to pass on necessary information to contractors and explain to them how to demonstrate that elements are built properly.'

In the context of the UK Building Safety Act, the Principal Designer is a key role designated within the regulatory framework for construction projects, particularly those involving higher-risk buildings. The Principal Designer is responsible for overseeing the design phase of a project, coordinating design activities, and ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations. The Principal Designer being an Active Designer.

The Principal Designer plays a crucial role in ensuring the safe and effective delivery of construction projects under the Building Safety Act. By prioritising health and safety in the design process, coordinating design activities, and fostering collaboration among project stakeholders, the Principal Designer helps to minimise risks, enhance project outcomes, and contribute to the overall safety and quality of the built environment.

The role of the Principal Designer should be an active and lead designer on any project, since they are in control of the actual design and most likely to be able to understand how that design can be developed and modified to reduce risk. However, if not fully confident in these design risk management skills they can call upon CDM (and Building Regulations) adviser support, but the Principal Designer role and responsibility remains with them.

For more information read our article PAS 8671 Framework for competence of Principal Designers on our Building Safety wiki.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Best practice.
• BSI competence requirements for principal contractors and designers.
• CDM 2015.
• Competence.
• Competence framework.
• Competence framework for project managers in the built environment launched.
• Competence management.
• Construction contractor.
• Construction fire safety responsibility and competence matrix.
• Construction phase plan.
• CDM 2015 client duties.
• CDM 2015 contractor duties.
• CDM 2015 designer duties.
• Grenfell Tower.
• Hackitt review of the building regulations and fire safety, final report.
• Learning.
• Professional.
• Professional conduct.
• Professional practice.
• Recruiting and retaining talent in the construction industry.
• Skills gap.

Comments

to find or register as a principal designer under the building safety act go to www.principaldesigner.uk.
This register has been set up by the Association of Consultant Architects.