HSE appoints safety consultant to support higher-risk building inspections

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has signed a framework agreement with safety consultant Socotec to support the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) with higher-risk building inspections.

Under this framework, Socotec will assist BSR in fulfilling its regulatory functions under the Building Safety Act 2022, including advising on higher-risk buildings and supporting the regulator in getting building inspectors registered by July 2024.

The contract will run for a minimum of three-and-a-half years.

Last week, BSR gave a three-month deadline extension for building control professionals to complete an assessment to demonstrate their competence to perform their duties due to concerns about a lack of professionals being available after the original deadline of 6 April. However, building control professionals in England are still required to register with the regulator on or before 6 April.

Through the framework, Socotec will provide the regulator with additional resources and expertise to assist the BSR in discharging its building control function. This will include supporting the building inspector registration process.

Last year, the HSE issued a tender for building safety consultants to provide support for the new regulator, split into two lots. The Building Safety Act allows the BSR to call upon assistance to help with the delivery of its functions.

The additional resources secured through the framework will form part of a multi-disciplinary building safety team being set up by the BSR, which will consist of core members of the BSR, registered building inspectors and fire safety experts.

The framework will operate for an initial period of three years and six months with the possibility of a three-year extension. The estimated value of the framework over the 6.5 years, across both lots, is £39.5m.