Building safety: consultation opens on the competence framework for Building Safety Managers

News

The BSI is consulting on the draft Publicly Available Specification (PAS) which lays out the competence framework for individual Building Safety Managers (BSMs) and nominated individuals working within an organisation Building Safety Manager carrying out the BSM duties.

We strongly encourage those who are responsible for building management to engage with this PAS as it will set the requirements for the BSM against which they will need to be certified.

This specification - PAS 8673 - is based on the recommendations regarding competence (i.e. skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours) and assessment given in Working Group 8’s (WG8) report Safer people, safer homes: building safety management. IWFM was a key member of WG8 and is also part of the steering group involved in the development of this PAS, which is sponsored by MHCLG.

PAS 8673 specifies requirements for building safety competence relevant to the role, functions, activities and tasks of BSMs, the new statutory role outlined in the Building Safety Bill. We have compiled this briefing note on the Building Safety Bill to provide members with greater context to the PAS and the BSM role.

The PAS was also mapped against the recommendations and core competence criteria set out in BSI Flex 8670 Built environment – Core criteria for building safety in competence frameworks – Code of practice. ‘Building safety’ is used in the sense defined in BSI Flex 8670 and encompasses fire safety, structural safety, public safety and public health.

The draft PAS 8673 covers the competence and commitment of BSMs in regard to:

• building structures and building systems
• interaction of systems and components
• operational practices necessary to maintain buildings safe for occupants
• risk management
• managing change, including the consequences of human behaviour
• leadership, communication and planning skills
• personal commitment to ethical behaviour and professional standards.

The specification describes different levels of competence for classifying BSMs and indicates the pathways between the levels. It shows how these levels relate to the competence requirements for managing buildings of different complexity and safety risks. The PAS also gives guidance on assessment of individuals.

IWFM’s Life Safety Working Group will review the proposed specification and will consult with other relevant stakeholders before submitting a response to the consultation (closing date is 15 September 2021).

If you have any comments on the draft PAS 8673, which you would like us to consider as part of our consultation response, please email: [email protected] by 3 September.