The Building Safety Act Industry Report

The Building Safety Act is about facing our responsibilities

Most people do not deliberately set out to do a bad job – a fact that was acknowledged by the Grenfell public inquiry.

However, changing the culture of a whole industry to focus on quality rather than price, and ensuring everyone understands their role and responsibilities under the BSA, backed up by consistent evidence of competence is the only way forward.

In May 2024, BESA enlisted AMA Research to conduct a comprehensive industry-wide survey, engaging approximately 750 members, to assess awareness, understanding, and readiness within the sector for the changes introduced by the Building Safety Act (BSA). The objectives were to:

• Measure awareness levels of the BSA among both members and non-members.
• Evaluate understanding regarding roles and responsibilities outlined in the BSA.
• Determine preparedness levels across all stakeholders.
• Gauge industry attitudes towards the introduction of the BSA.
• Measure perceptions of the BSA’s impact.
• Identify actions taken or planned in response to the BSA’s introduction

How much do we really understand the BSA?

The Building Engineering Services sector has a varied level of awareness of the Building Safety Act, and among those who are aware, there is a significant difference in their understanding of their roles and responsibilities under the BSA. Additionally, businesses that are aware and understand the BSA have taken measurable steps to modify their business practices to comply with legal requirements.

Levels of awareness of the BSA vary according to company size. Respondents from larger organisations are more likely to be aware of the BSA compared with those from smaller companies, in terms of numbers of employees.

There are some differences in levels of awareness of the BSA depending on organisations’ main regions of operation.* Those based in southern regions of the UK tend to have higher awareness of the BSA compared with those in northern regions

Challenges faced as a result of the BSA

Legal terminology and understanding of how to be compliant with the requirements of the BSA pose the biggest challenges to organisations. Competence requirements are cited by one-quarter of respondents as a challenge associated with the BSA.

The BESA Play it Safe Guide breaks down the legal jargon, and it's the BSA down into a simple message we can all agree on, The Building Safety Act has changed the rules.  Don’t get caught offside! Just like football, ensuring building safety requires teamwork. Clients, architects, engineers, contractors and residents all have vital roles. With clear goals, strategic planning and seamless coordination, we aim for victory in safety. Continuous training keeps everyone at their best, while strong communication ensures everyone is in sync.

Every player’s effort counts, making sure we avoid hazards and stay compliant. When we work together, we win together. Let’s keep our buildings safe – because in this game, safe buildings for all is the ultimate goal.

Raising awareness of the BSA

The Building Safety Act was introduced in the UK to improve safety regulations, particularly in response to the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire. The BESA industry report shows that the Building Engineering Services Sector has embraced the BSA & is working with the government & regulators to show there commitment to competence & compliance in all there work.

Membership of BESA and awareness of the BSA

43% of respondents claim that their organisations are members of BESA; with just over one-half stating they were not a member or unsure whether their organisations are members Over four-fifths of respondents have at least some knowledge of the Building Safety.