Building Safety Act 2022 | What 'Good' Actually Looks Like for Your Organisation

Last month’s London Build Expo 2025 revealed an uncomfortable reality in the construction industry. While 88% of construction professionals know about the Building Safety Act 2022, fewer than half have taken adequate action. The entire sector is grappling with looming deadlines, and many SMEs and microbusinesses are overwhelmed by the enormity of the changes.

Why Are SMEs Struggling with Building Safety Compliance?

The Building Engineering Services Association's research reveals a troubling disconnect. Rachel Davidson, BESA's director of specialist knowledge, described how small and medium-sized enterprises feel "overwhelmed and daunted" about the legislation. Given that SMEs and micro-businesses constitute 99% of the construction sector, this represents a systemic challenge.

What's particularly concerning is that 78% of companies recognise building safety's importance, yet action lags significantly behind awareness. As we have gone on we’ve seen informed negligence on an industrial scale, and it cannot continue.

What Does Genuine Compliance Actually Require?

The Building Safety Act is quite possibly the most significant change in a generation, born from the Grenfell Tower tragedy. Many an organisation is approaching this upcoming change as ‘yet another’ tick-box exercise, rather than an opportunity to review their culture and process.

Let me be direct about what "good" looks like, because the conversation has become complicated:

• For principal designers and contractors, compliance means demonstrating clear golden thread documentation from day one. Not retrospectively assembled files, but contemporaneous records showing how safety decisions were made, by whom, and on what basis. Your competence needs to be demonstrable through relevant qualifications like the NEBOSH Construction Certificate, combined with practical experience and ongoing professional development.
• For SMEs and specialist contractors, focus on understanding your specific responsibilities within the project hierarchy. You don't need to comprehend the entire Act. Davidson's point about helping firms concentrate on their particular duties is crucial. A specialist M&E contractor doesn't need expertise on the Accountable Person regime but must absolutely understand their contribution to fire safety systems and the golden thread.
• For building owners and Accountable Persons, this means shifting from reactive maintenance to proactive safety management. It requires systems to identify building safety risks before they become critical, maintain accurate building information, and ensure residents receive clear, accessible safety information.

The Enforcement Reality Nobody Wants to Discuss

Davidson made perhaps the most important observation at the expo: "Unless there are consequences, clients will continue to think compliance is optional."

The Building Safety Regulator possesses enforcement powers that dwarf anything the construction sector has previously experienced, backed by criminal sanctions including imprisonment for serious breaches. Yet dangerous complacency persists among some clients who view compliance costs as negotiable and competence requirements as bureaucratic overhead.

That's changing rapidly. Early prosecutions are being prepared, and when they begin, the sector will witness a swift attitude adjustment. It’s not a case of if enforcement will intensify, but when. So, organisations can choose to be ahead of the curve or scramble to catch up.

Beyond Compliance | The Cultural Shift Required

Hannah Carpenter from the Building Safety Wiki emphasised that communication must be value-driven rather than box-ticking. This resonates deeply with what I've observed working with organisations attempting to embed a strong culture of safety in the workplace.

Cultural change sounds nebulous, but it's measurable. You can assess it through how decisions are made under time pressure, how concerns are raised and addressed, how competence gaps are identified and filled, and how safety considerations feature in commercial negotiations.

Good looks like design team meetings where building safety is agenda item one, not an afterthought. It looks like supply chain selection where competence is weighted as heavily as cost. It looks like senior leadership who understand their duties under the Act and model the behaviours they expect from their teams.

Positive Progress Signals

There are encouraging signs. Gary Cass, CEO of Hertfordshire Building Control, reported that Gateway 2 submission times have dropped from 38 weeks to 17 weeks, demonstrating that improvement is achievable when organisations prioritise compliance properly.

However, Cass also identified a significant resource challenge due to declining numbers of Building Control officers and experienced inspectors. This sector-wide problem requires urgent attention, but it doesn't excuse organisations failing to allocate adequate internal resources to building safety compliance.

Moving Forward | Practical Steps

If you're feeling overwhelmed, start by identifying exactly which duties apply to your typical role on projects. Seek specific guidance from trade bodies or competent advisors on those particular responsibilities. Invest in structured competence development through recognised qualifications and continuing professional development.

The construction sector is at an inflexion point. The current approach of high awareness, low action is unsustainable. Over the coming months, enforcement action will begin, creating case law and demonstrating the Regulator's willingness to use its powers. Projects that might have passed through in the early learning phase will face rejection or extensive revision requirements.

The bar has been raised. The question is whether your organisation is ready to meet it and whether you're positioning yourself to thrive under the new regime or merely hoping to survive it.

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