Siniat claims that by declaring design liability it is setting a precedent for the UK construction sector, marking a significant shift in accountability for construction risk and specification.
The move is designed to add clarity in the wake of recent legislation.
The Building Safety Act 2022 introduced the statutory role of the building regulations principal designer (BRPD), with responsibility for ensuring that all aspects of a project meet building regulations, while coordinating with manufacturers, designers and installers to ensure full compliance.
Siniat produces plasterboard for wall linings, partitioning and suspended ceilings. By taking accountability for the standard design details it provides, Siniat is aiming to reduce downstream risk and support duty holders through the building control gateway 2 compliance process.
Siniat head of specification Steve Warriner said: “The pace of regulatory change over the past few years, whilst undoubtedly and entirely necessary, has been at times, breathtaking. And, adapting to this recent phase of evolution has demanded a great deal from us as an industry – the type of rigorous scrutiny that requires a willingness to be a little uncomfortable in the name of becoming better.
“The need for clarity and accountability has never been greater.
“Today, we’re proud to be the first manufacturer to formally accept design responsibility for the systems we help to create. We understand the weight of this decision and the role we must play in supporting safer, more compliant buildings.”
He said that this decision had particular significance for passive fire protection systems, which can make up 5-15% or more of a building’s interior, depending on the specification. These areas have long suffered from grey zones around liability, particularly when combining different systems or adapting designs on-site.
He continued: “For too long, risk has cascaded unchecked across the supply chain. We believe that taking ownership of the information we issue is the right step forward – not just for our customers, but for the wider industry.”
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