Building Safety Review and the Golden Thread of Data

Ringley CEO Mary-Anne Bowring and Life by Ringley MD Sam Hay discussed the future of building safety at an RICS event in Manchester last November. The golden thread of data, which Dame Judith Hackitt's building safety review recommends, will be established for high-risk residential buildings (HRRBs) across the country. The review also introduces the framework for a new Joint Competent Authority (JCA) to focus on building safety.

Establishing the Joint Competent Authority (JCA)

The proposed JCA will bring together several important bodies, including local authority building standards, fire and rescue authorities, and the HSE. The goal is to ensure that safety is prioritized throughout the entire building lifecycle of HRRBs. The CDM regulations have played a significant role in improving safety accountability, and the review emphasizes their continued role in improving safety within the property industry.

Ongoing Safety Risks and the Role of the JCA

The key to effective safety management, according to Dame Judith Hackitt's review, is establishing a new body to ensure safety concerns from other agencies are integrated and mandatory. The JCA will focus on mitigating building safety risks during the design and construction phases of HRRBs. The review also proposes creating the role of a building safety manager to oversee ongoing safety risks, a role beyond the traditional property manager's responsibilities.

New Responsibilities for the Building Safety Manager

The building safety manager will be responsible for a variety of safety-related tasks, such as:

• Periodic safety case reviews to ensure ongoing safety and resident engagement.
• Ensuring dutyholders make building improvements to mitigate safety risks as necessary.

These responsibilities will go beyond the traditional property management scope and will require more specialized expertise.

The Role and Functions of the JCA

The JCA will be an independent body tasked with addressing immediate safety concerns in HRRBs. This includes:

• Mandatory reporting of safety concerns by dutyholders.
• Handling referrals from Environmental Health Officers and residents regarding safety issues.
  Additionally, the JCA will:
• Test construction products critical to building safety.
• Review annual reports from product testing houses to ensure building safety standards are met.

Training, Insurance, and Industry Changes Ahead

As the new responsibilities take effect, there will be a need for enhanced training across the industry, including for property managers who may need higher levels of professional indemnity (PI) insurance. While these are currently just recommendations, the industry is undergoing significant change, and more developments are expected.