From reactive to proactive: How to stay ahead of Building Safety Act requirements

What does the Building Safety Act really mean for High Rise Buildings? Findable's BSA guide helps you get up to speed on the Golden Thread, compliance deadlines, and digital strategies for safer buildings.

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Introduction 661fbe23a67bee5b7a3636ea_organised

The Building Safety Act 2022 represents a fundamental shift in building regulation and safety in the UK. With stricter compliance requirements, increased accountability, and severe penalties for non-compliance, building owners and property managers can no longer afford to take a reactive approach to compliance.

This guide will help you understand the key requirements of the Act, the risks of falling behind, and, most importantly, how to adopt a proactive strategy to aid compliance, safety, and financial stability across your properties.

Whether you are a developer, building owner, accountable person, property manager, or asset manager, this guide will outline practical steps to stay ahead of regulatory requirements and avoid last-minute fire drills.

 

Understanding the Building Safety Act

The Building Safety Act 2022 was introduced to improve safety in high-risk buildings following the Grenfell Tower disaster. It establishes new rules, roles, and responsibilities for those involved in the construction and management of buildings.

Key aspects of the Building Safety Act:

  • Scope: Applies primarily to higher-risk buildings (HRBs)—those over 18 metres (or 7 storeys) in height with at least two residential units.
  • Accountable person: A legally responsible individual or entity must ensure compliance with safety regulations.
  • Golden thread of information: Requires comprehensive record-keeping on building design, construction, and maintenance.
  • Building safety regulator (BSR): Oversees enforcement and compliance.
  • Safety case reports & mandatory reporting: Owners must submit safety case reports detailing fire and structural safety risks and mitigation measures.
  • Resident engagement & complaints: Residents must be informed about building safety risks and given a way to report concerns.

Compliance deadlines and penalties

  • Key deadlines vary depending on building status, registration, and ongoing inspections
  • Non-compliance can lead to criminal charges, fines, or loss of property control—these building safety penalties are intended to drive higher standards across the industry.
Proactive takeaway: Understand whether your building falls under the Act, who is accountable, and the key milestones for compliance.

The risks of a reactive approach

Financial Consequences:

  • Expensive last-minute remediation work.
  • Potential difficulty in obtaining insurance coverage.
  • Losing property value due to non-compliance concerns.

Legal & Regulatory Risks:

  • Failing to comply can result in criminal liability.
  • Enforcement notices and restrictions from the Building Safety Regulator.

Operational Disruptions:

  • Delays in sales, refinancing, or letting properties.
  • Unpreparedness for audits or inspections.

Reputational Damage:

  • Negative media exposure and loss of resident trust.
  • Difficulty in attracting investors, buyers, or tenants.

Proactive takeaway: Don’t wait for deadlines—take action now to avoid costly and risky last-minute compliance efforts.

Proactive compliance: what you should be doing now

To stay ahead, your business should implement a structured compliance strategy:

1. Conduct a compliance audit

  • Review existing building records, safety procedures, and risk assessments
  • Identify any gaps in documentation and required actions

2. Digital record-keeping & safety management systems

  • Implement software solutions to digitise records
  • Centralise documentation in one place for better document accessibility 
  • Ensure all building safety information aligns with the Golden Thread principle

3. Engage with regulators and industry experts

  • Maintain open communication with the Building Safety Regulator and local authorities
  • Work with fire safety engineers and legal professionals to verify compliance

4. Staff training and awareness

  • Educate employees, property managers, and contractors on new responsibilities
  • Provide regular updates on evolving fire and building safety laws
Proactive takeaway: Audit, digitise, collaborate, and educate to create a compliance roadmap before regulators ramp up enforcement
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Technology and tools to stay ahead

Technology plays a crucial role in simplifying compliance and enhancing building safety.

1. Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Twins

  • BIM: Creates a digital representation of a building’s structure and materials, allowing for better risk assessments.
  • Digital Twins: A real-time virtual model of the building that integrates data from sensors to detect safety risks

2. Compliance management software

  • Automated alerts for inspections and reporting deadlines
  • Centralised documentation to strengthen your safety management systems, with tools like Findable that automatically categorise building documentation to help you build and maintain a complete Golden Thread.

3. IoT & AI for real-time safety monitoring

  • Smart sensors to track fire risks, air quality, and structural integrity.
  • AI-driven analytics to predict potential compliance failures.
Proactive takeaway: Invest in digital tools and automation to for continuous, real-time compliance tracking.

Future-proof compliance starts with proactivity!

Building safety is an ongoing responsibility—not a one-time checklist. Regulators now expect you to build your own case and provide evidence demonstrating that your properties are compliant. 

1. Establish a culture of safety & accountability

  • Foster a safety-first mindset among property managers and residents
  • Assign clear roles and responsibilities to compliance teams
  • Set up clear, long-term processes that your team and residents can realistically follow to keep your compliance on track over time

2. Regular safety audits & updates

  • Schedule periodic building safety inspections to stay ahead of risks 
  • Update policies and records in response to evolving regulations

3. Partnering with experts & advisors

  • Work with fire safety consultants, structural engineers, and legal advisors to stay updated
  • Engage with resident associations to address safety concerns proactively
    Proactive takeaway: Compliance is an ongoing process: regular audits, expert input, and a strong safety culture are key
Proactive takeaway: Compliance is an ongoing process: regular audits, expert input, and a strong safety culture are key

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Building Safety Act: next steps

By moving from reactive crisis management to a proactive compliance strategy, building owners and property managers can:

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Avoid legal and financial risks

 

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Maintain building value and insurability

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Ensure tenant and resident safety

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Stay ahead of regulatory changes

Conduct an 
initial compliance assessment

Invest in digital safety management solutions

Train your team
on new responsibilities.

Engage with industry experts 

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Get in control of your properties
tomorrow.

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