BSA Principal Designer vs CDM Principal Designer

There are now two Principal Designer roles in construction – the Building Regulations Principal Designer (often referred to as the BSA Principal Designer) and the CDM Principal Designer.

The titles may be the same, but they are separate appointments under different legislation, with different duties and competence requirements. Understandably, this has caused some confusion for architects, designers and their clients.

So what’s the difference, do you need to take both roles – and what are your options if you’d rather have some help with the CDM side?

The Building Regulations Principal Designer, commonly referred to as the BSA Principal Designer, is appointed where there is more than one designer working on a project subject to the Building Regulations.

Their role is to plan, manage and monitor the design work during the design phase and coordinate matters relating to the design work so that, if the building work is carried out in accordance with the design, it complies with the relevant requirements of the Building Regulations.

For many projects, the architect or lead designer may therefore be well placed to undertake this role, provided they have the necessary competence and organisational capability.

The CDM Principal Designer is a separate role under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.

Where a project involves, or is likely to involve, more than one contractor, the client must appoint a CDM Principal Designer in writing.

The CDM Principal Designer plans, manages, monitors and coordinates health and safety during the pre-construction phase. This includes helping designers identify and manage foreseeable risks, coordinating the design team and ensuring relevant health and safety information is communicated as the project develops.

The CDM Principal Designer also liaises with the Principal Contractor during the construction phase where necessary and is responsible for preparing, reviewing and updating the Health and Safety File.

No. The Building Regulations Principal Designer and CDM Principal Designer are separate appointments, and the same organisation does not have to undertake both.

In practice, an architectural practice has several options depending on its competence, resources, appetite for responsibility and the needs of the project.

1. Take both Principal Designer roles

Where the architectural practice has the necessary competence and organisational capability, it can act as both Building Regulations Principal Designer and CDM Principal Designer.

This can provide the client with a straightforward and integrated arrangement, keeping the architectural service and both Principal Designer functions within the same practice.

2. Act as BSA PD and appoint a separate CDM PD

An architect may be comfortable undertaking the BSA Principal Designer role but prefer not to accept the CDM Principal Designer appointment – whether because it does not have the necessary CDM competence, does not have the resources available, or simply does not wish to take on the additional responsibility.

In this situation, the client can appoint a separate organisation such as Nautilus as CDM Principal Designer, while the architect retains its architectural and Building Regulations Principal Designer roles.

3. Take both roles with CDM advisory support

An architectural practice with the appropriate CDM competence may wish to retain both Principal Designer appointments and its direct relationship with the client, while bringing in specialist assistance with the CDM responsibilities.

Nautilus can provide CDM Principal Designer advisory support, working alongside the practice and assisting with the practical day-to-day CDM work while the architect remains the formally appointed CDM Principal Designer.

This can provide the client with a relatively simple consultant structure while giving the architectural practice access to specialist CDM knowledge and resources when required.

4. Appoint separate consultants to both roles

The two Principal Designer roles can also be undertaken by separate external consultants, and this may be entirely appropriate where the architectural practice does not wish to undertake either appointment.

There can, however, be commercial as well as technical considerations. Introducing separate Building Regulations and CDM Principal Designers can leave the client with three professional appointments covering areas that may previously have formed part of a more integrated architectural service.

This is particularly worth considering when the external BSA Principal Designer is itself an architectural or multidisciplinary practice capable of providing some or all of the services you currently provide.

For some practices, retaining the Building Regulations Principal Designer role – and, where appropriately competent, the CDM Principal Designer appointment with specialist advisory support – can therefore help provide the client with a simpler service while maintaining continuity of the existing architect-client relationship.