The Building Safety Act: how compliant are your fastener specifications?
- Read time: 2 minutes
- Date: 17 Sep 2024
Since 2022, the construction industry has been addressing arguably the most significant new piece of legislation in recent memory: the Building Safety Act, or BSA.
But surely selecting the safest fasteners must be too small a detail to be included within the legal realm of the BSA?
False.
Established as legislation during the summer of '22, one thing is certain: the industry is now 'au fait' with the headline titles that have dominated the accompanying commentary - the golden thread, dutyholders, and of course, HRBs (high-risk buildings).
Roles and responsibilities have now been set out clearer than ever before, but the truth is the Building Safety Act simply puts into law best working practices - however, a brighter and more powerful spotlight has been turned to shine on the Construction industry as a whole.
So although most would acknowledge their recognition of the Building Safety Act of 2022, the challenge is: are we just paying lip service to a law that could impact the entirety of our career in construction? Or do we fully understand the roles we play within the construction process?
Responsibilities redefined
Rightly so, the BSA has heralded the arrival of greater responsibility for all parties involved in the construction process - especially for specifiers.
Your role as a specifier - and therefore, a responsible party - includes choosing product manufacturers that offer compliant and verified products, with the data to back up performance claims and technical advice received.
Are the choices you're making traceable as part of the golden thread? Every building in England by law now requires this digital record of data and documents.
Fasteners: a bigger deal than you thought
Fasteners are generally considered small and insignificant components of the building envelope - yet without them, construction would be impossible, so the inclusion of product data and fastener information into the golden thread is critical now, more than ever before.
Products tested and approved to recognised standards (such as CE/UKCA) must become the norm - therefore, the responsibility lies with product manufacturers to produce clear, unambiguous product data, and ensure it is easily available to specifiers.
However, are your chosen product manufacturers compliant? Although thousands of products are used on a single construction project, the question is if you're selecting the right product manufacturers to deliver compliant projects - the responsibility lies with the specifier to ensure they make the right choices when selecting product manufacturers.
A new era of verification
And with the arrival of the Building Safety Act came the creation of a new verification body: the Code for Construction Product Information, or CCPI. It's fast becoming the industry standard for verification of product information offered by manufacturers, existing to verify that the claims manufacturers make as to their construction products are accurate and not misleading.
The 5 'acid tests' of CCPI are that marketing and technical product material must be:
Clear
Accurate
Up-to-date
Accessible
Unambiguous
From the standpoint of a specifier, the absolute 'zero margin for ambiguity' translates into well-informed, confident decision-making, based on product performance claims that have been verified by an independent third-party review body.
If you take a step back and review your chosen product manufacturer suppliers, can you be assured they provide verified and CCPI compliant product information?
Aim for early collaboration
One of our strengths here at Fixfast is our ability to collaborate early in the design process with specifiers and designers. With technical expertise and the data to back it up, our goal is to assist you with accurate specifications that meet the stringent requirements of the Building Safety Act, and other relevant legislation.
From a manufacturer to a specifier, here's what we'd suggest:
Engage early: Involve manufacturers early in the design process to discuss specific requirements and potential challenges
Specify clearly: Provide detailed specifications and ensure your suppliers understand the compliance requirement
Verify compliance: Regularly check that supplied fasteners meet the specified standards, and have the necessary documentation for your digital golden thread of information
Specification is just the start
Following the principles above ultimately means working to the spirit of the legislation: the creation of better, safer buildings.
Specifying fasteners to attach the building envelope correctly may seem like a small detail, but under the BSA, can have huge consequences. So while it must start with specification, you're not alone. Product manufacturers should provide you with the tools to assist your projects from concept to completion.
