Services and Scope
The Act clearly defines both the Principal Accountable Person (PAP) and the Accountable Person (AP). It states that the ultimate owner (typically the building owner and/or freeholder), assumes the role of the PAP. The PAP holds overall responsibility for complying with the requirements of the Act, with support provided by the APs. In this context, as the managing agent, Allsop’s responsibilities under the property management agreement include the repair and maintenance of the common parts of the higher-risk building.
As an AP, we have a legal duty to manage and mitigate building safety risks, to cooperate with the PAP and any other APs, and to provide relevant safety information to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) as required. Allsop are well placed to act on behalf of HUB in fulfilling the duties of the PAP under the Act. We therefore respectfully request that HUB formally instruct Allsop to discharge the responsibilities of the Principal Accountable Person, and to implement the requirements of the Building Safety Act, as set out in the list of actions and activities detailed below, which Allsop will manage in accordance with both our existing management role and the extended duties proposed.
Collate all relevant information to register with the Building Safety Regulator. General information will include but is not limited to:
• A written summary of the building
• Floor plans (in paper form, and in a digitalised format)
• Asset list of fire equipment (fire lifts / AOVs etc.)
• Height measurements
• Construction information (such as construction materials, considering external façades)
• Information around fire prevention
• Information about emergency planning
• Details on property compliance, itemising the maintenance regimes for gas, electrics and fire (where applicable).
• Details of all items requiring checking evidencing testing at the correct frequency and providing a schedule to demonstrate how any non-compliant assets are identified
Develop the "Golden Thread" of information:
This is the information about a building that allows the responsible person to keep it safe, now and in the future. It must ensure information is accurate, up to date, easily understandable and it can be accessed by those who need it. It must be remembered that the golden thread should be continually updated through the life cycle of a building, and it is important that the thread of information is regularly reviewed and kept up to date.
Develop a resident engagement strategy:
This will be building-specific in line with the Building Safety Act to ensure residents are informed and involved in building safety matters. This will include tailored engagement initiatives relevant to the building and its residents, such as meetings, updates, and accessible communications.
We will build a clear profile of who the residents are, identify any vulnerabilities, assess the need for additional support measures, and prepare Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) where required. The strategy will be reviewed regularly to ensure it remains relevant and effective.
Develop a mandatory occurrence reporting procedure
This involves identifying and reporting any safety-related event that could pose a serious risk to life or compromise the building’s structural or fire safety systems, even if no harm actually occurred. These safety occurrences must be reported to the Building Safety Regulator within 72 hours of becoming aware, using the prescribed reporting process.
Write a building safety risk assessment:
This will cover a variety of scenarios, such as a fire spreading across multiple compartments on a single floor. What we will do to address each of these scenarios, and what mitigations will be put into place.
Write an action plan
This will include missing information and whether any additional inspections or surveys need to take place.
All actions will be put into a plan, which will be reviewed and updated regularly.
Once all of this information has been covered and combined, the safety case for any building is likely to exceed 40 pages, with the exact length depending on how complex a particular building is.
All of this information surrounding a safety case will be stored in the ‘Golden Thread’.
Complete a Safety Case Report
This is the document that demonstrates Building Safety risks have been assessed and all reasonable steps are being taken to prevent risk. It is the primary way the Building Safety Regulator will hold the Accountable Person to account for identifying risks and hazards and managing them. The report is specific to the building in question and will remain valid and ready for review when required. The Safety Case report is assisted by the golden thread of information which delivers complete information and evidence around the assessment and management of Building Safety risks.
Submit the Safety Case Report and Respond to the Building Safety Regulator
When requested by the Building Safety Regulator, we will submit the safety case report on behalf of the Principle Accountable Person. We will also manage and respond to any follow-up questions from the Building Safety Regulator to support and validate our claims regarding the building’s safety.
Achieve the building assessment certificate
A Building Assessment Certificate (BAC) is a formal confirmation issued by the Building Safety Regulator under the Building Safety Act. It confirms that the Principle Accountable Person has complied with their legal duties to manage building safety risks, maintain a safety case report, and implement effective safety measures.
The certificate is issued following a Building Safety Regulator assessment of the safety case and supporting evidence submitted by the Principle Accountable Person.
To achieve the BAC, we will respond promptly to the BSR, address any actions raised, and support achieving the BAC subject to the Principle Accountable Person implementing any requirements imposed by the Building Safety Regulator.
In addition, Allsop will ensure the following Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 are implemented:
- Installation of Premises Information Boxes.
- Ensure we undertake weekly checks on the operation of firefighters and evacuation lifts. Check the functionality of other key pieces of firefighting equipment.
- Report to local fire and rescue service if any firefighting, evacuation lift or any other life safety/firefighting-related system is out of order and cannot be fixed within 24 hours.
- Review wayfinding signage and address promptly any FRA actions raised regarding signage.
- Undertake annual and quarterly checks of fire doors.
- Provide residents with information relating to the importance of fire door safety.