A new awareness campaign to improve the industry’s understanding of its roles and responsibilities under the Building Safety Act has been launched by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA). Timed to coincide with the end of the 2024 European Championships, the BESA ‘Play it Safe’ interactive guide uses football to illustrate how companies and individuals fit into the ‘team’ needed to deliver building safety and comply with the legislation.
The football comparisons are designed to make it easier for building services professionals to identify their specific roles and responsibilities, and the guide then directs them to more detailed information on the BESA Building Safety Act Hub to help them comply. Using the different roles associated with a football club, including players, backroom staff, and club management, the guide highlights specific competence requirements and type of evidence for each member of the supply chain.
‘Play it Safe’ will be exclusive to BESA members before it is launched to the whole industry at the Association’s Annual Conference on 17 October at the Brewery in London. The Association will then encourage the sector to engage with the campaign so it can demonstrate not just awareness but also better understanding of the new building safety regime and how companies and individuals are gearing up to meet competence and compliance requirements.
Alongside the campaign, BESA is launching an in-depth survey of the building engineering services industry to gauge awareness of the Act and its implications. It is working with the market research specialists Barbour ABI to find out how well the sector’s professionals, particularly people in senior positions, understand their roles and responsibilities and what measurable steps have been or are being taken to demonstrate compliance. Participants will be entered into a prize draw for England footballer Rachel Daly’s Euro 2022 championship shirt worth £324.99. The survey closes at midnight on Friday, 30 August.
“As well as being a practical and relatable tool, we hope the guide will also provide some welcome reassurance to our members and the wider industry in the face of growing concern about the implications of the legislation,” says BESA’s director of specialist knowledge Rachel Davidson.
“It has been clear for some time that many building services firms were aware that the legislation existed but were unsure whether it was relevant to them – or what their responsibilities might be. This is partly because of the complexities of the Act and some confusing messages about what buildings were affected.
“The campaign is designed to cut through the mass of information out there to guide firms and individuals to what is directly relevant to them, including what they need to do to prove their competence, ensure compliance, and reassure their clients that they can help them comply too.
“Ultimately, this is about doing the right thing: Keeping people safe and well in buildings and driving the much-needed culture change that will transform the sector and help rebuild the industry’s reputation and trust.”
