The Building Safety Act Presents a ‘Business Opportunity’ for Supply Chain Says BESA

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11 December 2023

Visibly embracing new building safety legislation presents an opportunity for supply chains to demonstrate a commercial advantage, according to BESA’s new Building Safety Act Advisory Group.

In the first meeting of the new steering group, BESA members agreed that the requirements of the legislation would transform all aspects of project delivery and business management. The association also warned that even though the early focus of the Building Safety Act is on higher-risk buildings such as high-rises, the construction industry will not be able to operate a two-track system.

“This is transformational legislation that will impact everyone working in building services engineering,” said the group’s Chair and Technical Director of MEICA Systems at Laing O’Rourke Nick Mead. “The regulator’s eye is now firmly fixed on HRBs but that does not mean we can ignore the implications for other projects.

“The act has already led to fundamental changes to other regulatory standards including Approved Document B, which applies to all projects, and there are a lot more to come. It is also influencing competency requirements across the board, so this is not something that anyone can avoid whether they work on HRBs or not.”

The advisory group was established by BESA’s new Director of Specialist Knowledge Rachel Davidson to agree on priorities for the building services contracting sector and help the association create focused guidance to help firms of all sizes adapt to the new requirements.

The Building Safety Act Will Not Create Two Models

Nick continued: “No construction business could possibly consider trying to operate two delivery models. And why would we? These new rules have been put in place to address decades old safety and quality problems, so it is in all our interests to comply and drive much-needed culture change across the whole industry.”

“All of us must get into the mindset that this is about any building not just high-rise. BESA is in a strong position to bring all the relevant information together, and make sure this does not become intimidating for the smaller firms.

“In fact, I would encourage everyone in our supply chains to look at this as a business opportunity. If you can show that you are ready for the changes and are embracing them, you will be in pole position when it comes to contracts being awarded.”

Picture: a photograph of a curved grass fronted building. Image Credit: Pexels

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 11 December 2023

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