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Principal Designer Duties and Competence Requirements

A principal designer is the designer with control over the design work under the Building Regulations and is appointed by the client.

If there’s more than one designer working on a project, designers must agree in writing which designer is to fulfil the duties of the principal designer. If there is only one designer working on the project, that designer automatically takes on the role of the principal designer and must carry out all the responsibilities assigned to this role.

Duties Of The Principal Designer

Principal Designer role and responsibilities as a dutyholder under the Building Safety ActAs a principal designer, you have key responsibilities to ensure the design work complies with relevant regulations. These include planning, managing, monitoring, and coordinating matters related to the design work. You must:

  • Ensure all designers meet their obligations under building regulations.
  • Review design work to confirm that it complies with applicable building regulations.
  • Collaborate with the principal contractor to manage the coordination of design and construction work.
  • Assist the client in providing necessary information to other parties as required.

You must also ensure that those working on the design communicate and coordinate with:

  • The client
  • The principal contractor
  • Other designers and contractors

If a principal contractor is involved, you need to take their feedback into account, particularly regarding compliance with building regulations. While you can delegate tasks, the ultimate legal responsibility remains with you.

If you cease to be the principal designer, you must provide the client with a document explaining the arrangements you've made to fulfill your duties, within 28 days of your appointment ending. If you're replacing a previous principal designer, you should review the arrangements they set to meet their legal obligations.

Additional Duties For Higher-Risk Projects

For projects involving higher-risk building work, you have further responsibilities, including:

  • Implementing a mandatory occurrence reporting system.
  • Submitting occurrence notices and reports to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR).
  • Maintaining and sharing key building information, known as the "golden thread," with the client and principal contractor.
  • Ensuring that those you appoint to design meet competence requirements and sharing this information with the client.

Competence Requirements For Principal Designers

As a principal designer, you should be able to coordinate the design team. While you don’t need to be an expert in every design discipline, you should have sufficient knowledge of building regulations to assess whether a design complies with all relevant standards.

You should also be able to provide necessary support to others, like sharing information with contractors and helping them demonstrate compliance.

The British Standards Institute’s PAS8671 outlines the competence requirements for principal designers, offering guidance on how to demonstrate and assess competence.

Key Competence Areas

1. Legal And Regulatory Understanding: Principal designers must have a solid understanding of the legislation and regulations that govern their role and building compliance.

2. Design Work Management: You should be able to manage the design process, ensuring compliance with building regulations, and monitor any risks related to compliance. This includes setting a clear plan, controlling changes, and ensuring communication with the principal contractor.

3. Technical Understanding: You must be knowledgeable about technical guidance, standards, and best practices to effectively assess, challenge, and coordinate design work that meets compliance requirements.

By meeting these duties and competence standards, principal designers help ensure building projects are safely and effectively executed, in full compliance with relevant requirements.