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What is BS 8670-1 - Core criteria for building safety about?

Converting BSI Flex 8670 into a full British Standard, BS 8670-1:2024 is a set of core competence criteria covering the knowledge, skills, experience and behaviours required to work on buildings of all types and scales. The goal is to help raise levels of individual professional competence across the built environment in support of the new Building Safety regime.

Who is BS 8670-1 - Core criteria for building safety for?

BS 8670-1:2024 has been developed for those with responsibility for the development, maintenance or application of sector-specific competence frameworks for roles, functions, activities or tasks undertaken by individuals where these are critical to and directly influence safety in and around buildings.

It's also relevant to clients' understanding of expectations of relevant parties that they may appoint or instruct to undertake work on their behalf.

The standard might also be relevant to regulated, duty-holding or statutory roles, including:

principal designers;
principal contractors;
designers;
contractors;
building control professionals; and
persons responsible for buildings in occupation.

What does BS 8670-1 - Core criteria for building safety cover?

BS 8670-1:2024 gives recommendations for core criteria for building safety to promote high standards of protection for people in and around buildings. It applies to buildings of all types and scales. It is intended to have wide application and relevance in modern construction and property markets throughout the UK and beyond.

Building safety in the context of BS 8670-1:2024 relates to the physical conditions created by new or existing buildings, their immediate surroundings and how these impact on the safety of occupants, including residents, throughout the building lifecycle.

NOTE: This British Standard is not intended to address workplace health and safety during construction and does not cover other matters which might affect safety, such as policing or crime.

Why should you use BS 8670-1 - Core criteria for building safety?

Adopting BS 8670-1 can help your organization in several key areas:

Compliance: BS 8670-1:2024 supports the delivery of regulatory policy and the new regulated roles responsible for building safety set out in the Building Safety Act.

Professional competency: Based on experiential feedback from the industry, BS 8670-1:2024 provides a benchmark framework that will help professional institutions and other organizations develop sector-specific competence frameworks for technical and non-technical roles, raising professional competency across the sector.

Safety and quality: BS 8670-1:2024 can help ensure that buildings are specified, designed, manufactured, procured, constructed, inspected, assessed, managed, operated, maintained, refurbished and demolished by a workforce that is competent to ensure safety and good quality.

Confidence and risk: BS 8670-1:2024 can contribute to increased trust in buildings and help strengthen risk management along the built environment supply chain.

BS 8670-1:2024

Competence frameworks for building safety - Core criteria. Code of practice

Current

Published:

31 May 2024