CIAT appeals to the Lords to correct fundamental flaw in Building Safety Bill
Francesca Berriman, CEO of CIAT, has written to Michael Gove and Lord Greenhalgh in an attempt to raise a fundamental flaw in a clause within the Building Safety Bill.
Francesca Berriman, CEO of CIAT, has written to Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Lord Greenhalgh, Minister of State (Minister for Building Safety and Fire) in an attempt to raise a fundamental flaw in one of the clauses within the Building Safety Bill 2022 seeking to amend the Building Act 1984.
- Letter to Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
- Letter to Lord Greenhalgh, Minister of State (Minister for Building Safety and Fire)
Item 10 of Schedule 5 of the Building Safety Bill seeks to amend Clause 7 in respect of Approved Documents.
There appears to be a lack of understanding of the status of Approved Documents. Building Regulations being the minimum standard to be achieved and Approved Documents being guidance as to how one might achieve such standards. The clause in question clarifies this, but the amendment and use of the term "approved documents" to describe other documentation is a recipe for disaster in interpreting liability. Compliance with guidance (such as Approved Documents) does not take account of complexity of buildings that may require more stringent considerations but may not use the methods contained in the Approved Documents to achieve compliance with Building Regulations.
CIAT urges the writing committee to correct this error in order to mitigate further confusion, and unintended consequences.