How do you prepare a building assessment certificate (BAC) for the building safety regulator (BSR)?

Published: 10/04/2024

This month the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) started contacting Principal Accountable Persons (PAPs) to apply for their Building Assessment Certificate (BAC). Once this information is requested, PAPs only have 28 days to provide it.

The buildings which will be prioritised for a BAC during this first year will meet at least one of the following criteria:

Over 50 metres high with more than 11 residential units
Over 30 - 49.99 metres high, with more than 217 residential units
Clad with combustible aluminium composite material (ACM)
Constructed from large panel systems built between 1957 and 1973 with gas networks, and ambiguity if reinforcement work has been carried out

tall buildings

So how do you prepare a BAC?

The answer is that you cannot directly prepare a Building Assessment Certificate (BAC) yourself. The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) issues the BAC after assessing your application and supporting documents. However, you, as the principal accountable person, are responsible for applying for the BAC and providing the necessary information. Here's how to get ready:

Before you apply:

Ensure your building registration information with the BSR is up-to-date.

Documents to submit with your application:

Safety Case Report: Harris Associates are compliance experts and can compile your Safety Case Report, learn more here
Mandatory Occurrence Reporting System Information: Explain your system for reporting safety incidents to the BSR.
Resident Engagement Strategy: Demonstrate your plan to keep residents informed about building safety matters.
Compliance Notices: Provide details of any active compliance notices you have received from the BSR.
Building Information Sharing: Confirm you have a system for sharing relevant building information with necessary parties.

The application process:

The BSR website offers a service to apply for a BAC, once they instruct you to do so https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2022/30/part/4/crossheading/registration-and-certificates/enacted. There's also a guide to prepare your application https://www.hse.gov.uk/building-safety/regulator.htm.

BSR Assessment:

The BSR will review your application and documents. They may want to carry out an inspection to verify your building safety arrangements.

Issuing the BAC:

If satisfied, the BSR will issue a Building Assessment Certificate for your building.

More Useful Resources:

Apply for a building assessment certificate: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2022/30/part/4/crossheading/registration-and-certificates/enacted
Building Assessment Certificate guidance: https://www.hse.gov.uk/building-safety/regulator.htm

Harris Associates can offer a bespoke solution to enable you to comply with the latest legislation. We are experts in statutory compliance and fire safety-related matters with experienced and qualified technicians, surveyors, engineers, and project managers. We have national coverage and can help with all aspects of compliance including Building Safety Case Reports or façade remediation from FRAEWs through to the coordination and delivery of complex façade remediation contracts.

For more information on our services, assistance, or advice on these latest developments or any related fire safety or regulatory matter please contact Shaun Harris, Tamer Duman, or Nicola Goule via phone or email shaun@harrisassociatesuk.com, tamer@harrisassociatesuk.com or nicola@harrisassociatesuk.com call 0203 195 0857, 0161 615 3679 or 0121 213 6307.

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