Principal Contractor Competence
BESA Principal Contractor Competence Framework (PAS 8672)
From awareness to action: Building competence into every project.
The Building Safety Act has reshaped how our industry defines and proves competence but for many Principal Contractors and Clients, turning policy into practice has been a major challenge.
Following the findings of the BESA Building Safety Act Industry Report 2025, one message was clear:
“You told us you needed clearer guidance. We listened and delivered.”
BESA has developed the Guidance Framework for Principal Contractor Competence (PAS 8672) to simplify complexity and help the industry move from awareness to action.
This new guidance translates the technical language of the PAS and BSI standards into clear, practical steps that Principal Contractors, Clients, and Duty holders can apply right now to meet their legal obligations.
Why This Matters
Under the Building Safety Act’s dutyholder regime, Principal Contractors must now demonstrate their organisational competence and individual capability to Clients.
Yet, across the sector, this process has been inconsistent, fragmented, and time-consuming.
Clients are often unsure how to assess competence, while contractors face duplicative prequalification checks or conflicting PAS requirements.
The BESA Principal Contractor Competence Framework solves this by providing a structured, standardised, and cross-referenced approach to demonstrating competence under PAS 8672, BSI Flex 8670, PAS 8671, PAS 8673, and Build UK’s Common Assessment Standard (CAS).
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What’s included in the Framework
The guidance is divided into four clear sections, each designed to make competence evidence simple and standardised:1. Foreword – A structured approach to compliance with PAS 8672 and related frameworks.
2. SKEB Criteria – A practical breakdown of the required Skills, Knowledge, Experience and Behaviours (SKEB).
3. Competence Requirements – Aligned with CAS (70%) to avoid duplication, covering both company and individual evidence across six key areas:
- Legal and Contractual Requirements
- Managing Building Work
- Planning and Organising Work
- Construction Supervision and Quality
- Leadership and Competence Culture
- Stakeholder and Information Management
Who It’s For and How It Helps
Clients and Duty holders
Confidence through consistency.
The Framework provides a clear, standardised way to assess the competence of Principal Contractors and their teams — ensuring compliance, consistency, and accountability across every project.
It aligns with all key standards, so you can confidently demonstrate due diligence and reduce procurement complexity.
Use the Framework to set clear competence expectations for your contractors and supply chain.
Principal Contractors and Tier 1 Contractors
Prove your competence once, demonstrate it everywhere.
Show clients and regulators that your systems, supervision, and culture meet the Building Safety Act’s standards.
The Framework breaks PAS 8672 into six practical competence areas, with real examples of acceptable evidence for both your organisation and your people — all cross-mapped to Build UK’s CAS.
Download the Framework to simplify compliance and build trust with clients.
Supply Chain (Tier 2 and Specialist Contractors)
Align with your clients, prove competence the same way they do.
Principal Contractors need evidence of competence throughout their supply chain.
By adopting this Framework, you can demonstrate your alignment with PAS and CAS standards, reusing existing documentation (ISO 9001, CSCS, QA logs) and closing gaps efficiently.
Show you meet PAS-aligned competence standards and stand out in the supply chain.
For Individuals (Supervisors, Site Managers, Engineers, and Operatives)
Prove your personal competence and grow your professional credibility.
Competence under PAS 8672 is about people as much as processes.
This Framework includes real-world examples of evidence — from CVs and training certificates to inspection reports and witness statements — helping you demonstrate your SKEB and support your own professional development.
Use the Framework to evidence your competence and support your career progression.
The BESA Principal Contractor Competence Framework (PAS 8672) turns complexity into clarity.
It gives you a consistent, practical way to demonstrate compliance, whether you’re a Client, Principal Contractor, or part of the supply chain helping everyone in the industry prove competence once, not multiple times.
