The UK government recently released new guidelines under the Building Safety Act that aim to improve safety in the country’s buildings. The act covers a wide range of topics, including fire safety, structural safety, and safety in the event of a natural disaster. In this article, we will discuss the key changes and what they mean for building owners and residents, with a specific focus on the cladding industry.

One of the major changes is the introduction of a new building safety regime. This regime requires building owners to appoint a building safety manager who will be responsible for ensuring that the building meets the necessary safety standards. The building safety manager must have relevant training and experience and will be responsible for monitoring the building’s safety performance and carrying out regular safety assessments.

Another important change is the introduction of a new “golden thread” of information that must be kept throughout the life of a building. This golden thread will contain information on the building’s design, construction, and operation, as well as any safety-related incidents that occur. This information must be easily accessible to building residents and the relevant authorities.

The Building Safety Act also requires building owners to engage with residents and provide them with regular updates on the building’s safety performance. This engagement must be meaningful and must take into account the views and concerns of residents.

One significant change to building heights is that the maximum height for buildings covered by the act has been reduced from 18 to 11m. This reduction is aimed at ensuring that buildings are safer in the event of a fire or other safety-related incident.

The Building Safety Act requires that all new cladding systems must meet the necessary fire safety standards. This means that cladding manufacturers must provide evidence that their products meet these standards and that building owners must use cladding systems that have been tested and approved.

In conclusion, the new changes introduced by the Building Safety Act are a step in the right direction for improving safety in UK buildings. Building owners and residents must be aware of these changes and take the necessary steps to ensure that their building meets the necessary safety standards. Valcan is working closely with customers to help them with any new projects or projects needing to replace existing panels.

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