Why it matters

The duties start with the client. A commercial client who does not make the appointments must carry out the principal designer’s and principal contractor’s duties itself, and the same applies under the Building Regulations.

Getting the appointments, the pre-construction information and the construction phase plan in place before work starts protects the people on site and those living and working around it. It also leaves a health and safety file that the next person to work on the building can rely on.

Who it is for

Managing agents and residents’ management companies, freeholders and landlords, developers and commercial clients with refurbishment, major works, conversions or new homes planned, across London, the South East and the East of England.

Homeowners are domestic clients under CDM 2015. Their client duties normally pass to the contractor or principal contractor, or to us as principal designer where we agree it in writing.

Key terms

Client

Anyone for whom a project is carried out. A client acting in the course of a business carries the full duties in regulation 4, including suitable arrangements for managing the project with enough time and resources.

Domestic client

A client whose project is not in the course or furtherance of a business, usually a homeowner. Under regulation 7 the client duties pass to the contractor, the principal contractor or, by written agreement, the principal designer.

Principal designer (CDM)

The designer in control of the pre-construction phase, appointed in writing under regulation 5 where there is, or is likely to be, more than one contractor. The duties are in regulation 11 and regulation 12.

Principal designer (Building Regulations)

The designer in control of the design work, appointed in writing under regulation 11D of the Building Regulations 2010 on the same basis. Under regulation 11M they plan, manage and monitor the design work, and coordinate it so that, if built, it would comply with the building regulations. The CDM principal designer can hold this role too, if it meets the competence requirements for it and the client confirms the arrangement in writing.

Principal contractor

The contractor appointed under regulation 5 to plan, manage and monitor the construction phase and coordinate health and safety during it, under regulation 13.

Pre-construction information

Information the client holds or can reasonably obtain about the project and its health and safety hazards, including any existing health and safety file. It goes to every designer and contractor appointed or being considered.

Construction phase plan

The health and safety arrangements and site rules for the work, drawn up by the principal contractor, or the contractor where there is only one, before the construction phase begins.

Health and safety file

The information likely to be needed for future work on the building, prepared by the principal designer under regulation 12(5) and handed to the client at the end of the project.

F10 notification

The client’s written notice to HSE under regulation 6, made on HSE’s form F10 as soon as practicable before the construction phase begins. It is needed where the work is scheduled to last longer than 30 working days with more than 20 workers working at the same time at any point, or to exceed 500 person days.

How this maps to your RICS appointment

Principal designer work is appointed under the RICS Principal Designer (CDM 2015) Services and Principal Designer (Building Regulations) Services schedules, and advice to clients under CDM Compliance Consultant Services, each used with the RICS Standard or Short Form of Consultant’s Appointment. The headings below follow those schedules, so the services you see here are the services you tick in your appointment.

Guidance and briefings

Related services