The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has launched its third annual survey of the industry’s response to the Building Safety Act to gauge the pace of culture change across the sector.
BESA’s Building Safety Act Industry Survey, supported by Barbour ABI, invites MEP professionals to provide feedback on how the legislation, introduced in 2022, is now affecting day-to-day operations, management systems and workforce competence. The research will help the Association build up a picture of how organisations and supply chains are responding to the changes.
This year’s survey is supported by the Building Safety Regulator's Industry Competence Committee (ICC), which helped to shape the questions around future competence requirements and policy. BESA said the report would help the Regulator better understand the challenges facing building services firms and the support they need to achieve compliance.
The questionnaire takes under ten minutes to complete, and responses will be treated in confidence. Although the Act does not fully apply in the devolved nations, BESA is also encouraging responses from across the UK to fully understand sector‑wide readiness and cross‑border implications.
This year’s research addresses some controversial topics associated with the legislation including the new requirement for project records going back as far as 30 years; possible compliance trade-offs when project time and cost pressures become severe; and the importance of contractors challenging client decisions that may undermine safety and long-term operational integrity.
Maturity
“This survey has become increasingly important since its launch three years ago,” said BESA’s director of specialist knowledge Rachel Davidson. “The first two years focused heavily on awareness and understanding of roles and responsibilities (or lack of).
“This year we are looking closely at operational maturity and how the legislation is affecting ‘real life' projects including what impact it is having on business growth, and where competence gaps lie. This is all vital information that can help us shape guidance, provide targeted support and share practical experience to help drive culture change across the sector,” she added.
Davidson explained that BESA wanted to gain a better understanding of how businesses were managing competence, governance, leadership and compliance “in practice”, not just in policy documents or procedures.
“If you work anywhere in the built environment, I'd really appreciate you taking a few minutes to complete the survey,” she said. “Just as importantly, please share it with your colleagues and wider network.
“The stronger the response, the better the evidence we can provide to industry, the Regulator and government on what's working, where the challenges remain, and what support is needed next.”
BESA is also offering incentives to encourage the widest possible response with a prize draw for five £100 Amazon gift vouchers and free copies of the report to everyone who takes part. It will also donate £1 for every completed survey to the Lighthouse mental health charity .
To take part in this year’s Building Safety Act Industry Survey click here.