At the beginning of 2020, BSI embarked on a programme of work to develop a suite of competence standards for individuals and organizations working in the built environment sector. 

To date, this has resulted in the publication of PAS 8671:2022, PAS 8672:2022, PAS 8673:2022 and BS 8670-1:2024. Now, to assist with raising awareness of these standards and to recognise their importance for resident safety, BSI has developed a free guide to the standards for those who manage residential buildings.

Why are these standards important?

The built environment sector is undergoing significant transformation, driven by the need to improve safety, professionalism, and accountability in response to past failures and evolving regulations. 

Competence standards provide a structured and consistent approach to ensuring that individuals and organizations have the necessary skills, knowledge, and behaviours to manage residential buildings safely. 

With increasing legislative demands, these standards help to bridge industry gaps, enhance public trust, and ensure that building managers, designers, and contractors are well-equipped to meet modern safety expectations. They also align with regulatory requirements, reducing risks and liability for stakeholders while promoting a culture of continuous professional development and responsibility.

What does the guide cover?

The guide provides a brief introduction to the competence standards, the context in which they were developed and an overview of standards in general. 

It goes on to summarize each of the four standards in turn, drawing out key points which are particularly applicable to residents and those responsible for building safety.

The guide has been written to aid those who manage residential buildings or have an interest in their management, such as managing agents, resident management groups, landlords, freeholders, housing officers or leaseholders.

It has been drafted in the context of the current legislative and regulatory environment, which is expected to change over time, and reflects current and future changes known at the time of publication.

Download your free copy of the guide here.

What are the built environment competence standards?

The competence suite of standards consists of:

• BS 8670-1:2024 Competence frameworks for building safety. Core criteria. Code of practice

• PAS 8671:2022 Built environment. Framework for competence of individual Principal Designers. Specification

• PAS 8672:2022 Built environment. Framework for competence of individual Principal Contractors. Specification

• PAS 8673:2022 Built environment. Competence requirements for the management of safety in residential buildings. Specification

• BS 8674 Built environment. Framework for competence of individual fire risk assessors. Code of practice

• BS 8670-2 Competence frameworks for the built environment. Core criteria for construction product competence. Code of practice (in development)

Learn more about how standards are supporting quality and excellence in the built environment by visiting our industry page here.