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Nearly half of construction professionals ‘unsure’ of building safety laws

Nearly half of construction professionals ‘unsure’ of building safety laws

Mar 12, 2023 |NBS |3 Minute Read

A survey by leading specification and product information platform, NBS, has discovered that nearly half of construction professionals are unclear on laws relating to the Building Safety Act. 43% admitted they were unsure or had no idea on the processes relating to the new legislation. The same number (43%) were unclear on the responsibilities of duty holders regarding the three planning gateways.

  • New study finds nearly half (43%) of industry professionals are unclear on details relating to Building Safety Act
  • Nearly a third (31%) are unsure of which projects would fall under the scope of the new legislation
  • Survey highlights lack of knowledge in relation to duty holders and the new safety ‘gateways’
  • Research flagged a positive approach to third-party certification – around 90% considered it essential for safety-critical products
  • One in three specifiers have also seen products regularly changed or substituted from original specification plans (68%) due to cost-saving measures

A survey by leading specification and product information platform, NBS https://www.thenbs.com, has discovered that nearly half of construction professionals are unclear on laws relating to the Building Safety Act.

43% admitted they were unsure or had no idea on the processes relating to the new legislation. The same number (43%) were unclear on the responsibilities of duty holders regarding the three planning gateways.

The findings are part of a series of revelations from NBS’ upcoming ‘Product Information Report’ – a study focusing on the use of construction data and its role within specification plans. The full report is set to publish in April 2023.

NBS’ research team also found that around a third (31%) of specifiers are unclear on the type of projects that would fall under the new laws. Similarly, when it came to duty holder responsibilities for the gateways, less than a fifth (18%) felt entirely confident on the details.

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Low ratings for safety credentials

The results of NBS’ ‘Product Information Report’ did, however, offer a positive picture when it came to third-party safety credentials. 89% considered the use of verified certifications as ‘essential’ to safety-critical products. However, one in ten respondents (9%) considered them ‘useful’ but not ‘essential’, showing there’s still room for improvement.

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Stick to the plan

Worrying still were widespread reports of ‘specification breaking’ – the practice of substituting products and deviating from original specifications. Over a third of respondents (35%) reported this had become a regular occurrence, whilst nearly half (46%) had seen it happen on occasion.

The main reason of which was due to cost-cutting measures (68%), with cheaper alternatives taking precedence. This was followed by original products no longer being available to work within project deadlines (47%) caused by ongoing supply chain issues and the rising costs of energy and building materials. Client requests were also responsible (42%).

Russell Haworth, CEO of NBS and Byggfakta Group UK, said: “The results of the study have flagged a perceived lack of knowledge around building safety laws. It’s clear that there’s confusion from within the industry – awareness on specifics is patchy. The sector now needs to invest in training and further CPDs to ensure that architects and specifiers are up to speed, across all areas of the legislation.”

For those looking to find out more, the full report will be available on the NBS website from the 20th March 2023. To register your interest and view the Product Information Report 2023 Infographic, click here.

For more information, please contact:
The Think Tank (NBS)
Jo Wilmot or Niamh Meyer at The Think Tank 020 7831 2225,
Joannaw@thinktank.org, Niamhm@thinktank.org.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS
Methodology to be supplied by NBS

ABOUT NBS
NBS is a global leading technology platform that combines some of the best content and connectivity for anyone involved in the design, supply, and construction of the built environment.

For architects, engineers, designers and contractors we provide a cloud-based specification system that enables them to work smarter and reduce their risk.
For building product manufacturers, we help grow their business by exposing their products across the construction project timeline.
Headquartered in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, NBS has a global reach via our permanent bases in both Australia and Canada.
Our roots lie in the UK’s National Building Specification, which for over 50 years has been helping the construction industry build better and with lower risk.
Our future lies in cloud-based technologies and connected data, as we fast become the information marketplace for the global construction industry.

Website: https://www.thenbs.com

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