What do you need to know?

• The Building Safety Act 2022 introduced strict compliance requirements for high-rise residential buildings.
• Building Safety Cases (BSCs) are the foundation of understanding a building's fire and structural risks
• 74% of safety cases reviewed by the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) were rejected for poor documentation and lack of evidence.
• Structural reports and fire protection are often overlooked but vital for regulatory compliance

What is a Building Safety Case? 

Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the UK government enacted the Building Safety Act 2022 to improve accountability and transparency in managing high-rise residential buildings. Central to this legislation is the Building Safety Case, a comprehensive document that demonstrates how fire and structural risks are identified, managed, and mitigated.

BSR Safety Case review: a wake-up call for the industry

Recent findings from the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) reveal significant shortcomings in submitted safety cases.

Alarmingly, 74% of cases were rejected for failing to meet required standards.

Common reasons include:

• Incomplete or unclear documentation
• Lack of resident engagement strategies
• Major remedial works needed for compartmentation or structural issues
• Inadequate change management during design and construction
• Poor understanding of the “golden thread” of information and duty holder responsibilities

These findings underscore the urgent need for a rigorous, holistic approach to building safety documentation.

Are structural reports being overlooked?

While cladding, evacuation strategies, and suppression systems dominate safety discussions, structural integrity is equally critical. A robust structural report is not just a technical requirement but a cornerstone of a compliant safety case. Its role includes assessing stability and fire protection, yet fire protection within the structure is often overlooked.

At TFT, during technical due diligence surveys on Higher Risk Buildings (HRBs), we frequently encounter challenges in obtaining adequate structural evidence. to support the building's safety case. Key issues include:

• Absence of ‘as constructed’ documentation to demonstrate fire protection compliance - particularly in concrete-framed buildings where fire resistance is concealed within the structure and reliant on the depth of cover to steel reinforcement.
• Difficulties confirming that the built structure aligns with original design, even for relatively recent developments

Industry practice often relies on contractor completion statements, but these do not meet BSR expectations.

Why structural reports are the missing link in building safety compliance

To meet regulatory expectations, evidence of structural integrity must be captured during construction or obtained through testing and surveys for older buildings. These data need to confirm design compliance and validate both structural stability and fire protection adequacy.

The high rejection rate of safety cases is a stark reminder that compliance is not a box-ticking exercise. Structural reports, often overlooked, are fundamental to ensuring buildings can withstand fire events and protect lives. A comprehensive safety case must integrate structural and fire safety seamlessly to build a stronger, safer future for residents and communities.

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