Build UK has published an updated version of the Common Assessment Standard, and the building safety section must now be completed by all companies that carry out design or building work under the Building Safety Act.
The standard is the industry-agreed one for prequalification, which is improving quality standards and reducing duplication across construction. The building safety section was introduced a year ago and is now mandatory in the updated version five. Under the Building Safety Act, anyone appointing individuals or organisations to undertake work has a duty to ensure they’re competent.
Organisations must demonstrate ‘organisational capability’, and the Common Assessment Standard is being used by a growing list of clients and contractors to demonstrate compliance.
As a result, several Build UK members will be specifying that members of their supply chains must have successfully completed the building safety section by 1 October 2025. The Common Assessment Standard is regularly updated to meet industry needs and simplifies the prequalification system for businesses across the supply chain. Version five also includes updates to the corporate and professional standing; environmental; and fairness, inclusion and respect (FIR) sections of the question set to reflect new legislation and guidance.
More than 21,000 suppliers have now been certified against the Common Assessment Standard by the seven recognised assessment bodies, and a data sharing agreement means companies need to obtain certification only once from any of the recognised assessment bodies.
Jo Fautley, Build UK deputy chief executive, said: “Anyone carrying out work under the Building Safety Act who wants to reduce the bureaucracy of pre-qualification should make sure they have the Common Assessment Standard which is being used across the public and private sectors. If you hold multiple certifications, you should check to see if you have the Common Assessment Standard more than once and why that is.”
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