THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF CDM ADVISORS AND FIRE RISK ASSESSORS IN TUNBRIDGE WELLS
M.L.A. works closely with clients, designers or contractors across a wide radius of Tunbridge Wells. Our role as CDM advisors, and fire risk assessors, is simple: we protect people and help you meet your legal duties under current CDM 2015 regulations. We always take our own responsibilities safely as your CDM 2015 Principal Designer.
If planning construction and refurbishment works in Tunbridge Wells, you will need clear advice. CDM 2015 places legal duties on clients, designers and contractors. A CDM Principal Designer plays a central role in managing health and safety in the pre-construction phase.
This is where a company like M.L.A. can make a real difference.
UNDERSTANDING THE CDM 2015 PRINCIPAL DESIGNER ROLE
A CDM 2015 Principal Designer must plan, manage and monitor the pre-construction phase. This includes coordinating all health and safety matters so risks are identified and controlled before work starts.
As a CDM Principal Designer in Tunbridge Wells, we focus on:
- Identifying foreseeable risks during the design phases
- Ensuring designers comply with CDM 2015 duties
- Providing pre-construction information to contractors
- Liaising with Principal Contractors throughout a project
- Preparing and updating health and safety files for handover
These duties are not optional. They are legal requirements under CDM 2015. If you are a domestic client or commercial client in Tunbridge Wells or the surrounding areas, you must appoint CDM 2015 Principal Designers whenever more than one contractor is involved on the job.
Many projects run into trouble because risk is considered too late.
Poor planning leads to delays, redesign and enforcement actions. Our CDM advisors prevent this. We challenge your unsafe design decisions early. We will ask questions on whether fragile materials have been specified, if there is safe access for site maintenance, and if the structure can be built safely without unnecessary risks involved.
Addressing these issues protects your workforce and your investment.
THE ROLE OF A FIRE RISK ASSESSOR UNDER CDM 2015
Fire safety does not sit separately from construction safety.
It must be built into the design and managed during works. As a fire risk assessor operating in Tunbridge Wells, we assess both existing buildings and projects under construction. Fire risks will increase. Temporary electrics, hot works or changes to layouts create hazards.
Under CDM 2015, designers and contractors must consider these risks.
As CDM advisors, we ensure a fire strategy is a part of the planning process, not an afterthought. A competent fire risk assessor will:
- Identify ignition sources and combustible materials
- Review escape routes and emergency lighting
- Assess fire detection and alarm systems
- Provide clear, written recommendations
- Evaluate compartmentation and passive fire protection
With occupied buildings in Tunbridge Wells, Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Orders also apply. Responsible persons must conduct suitable and sufficient fire risk assessments. We support landlords, managing agents and business owners by helping them to meet these duties.
To learn more, pick up the phone and contact us today.
SUPPORTING PROJECTS IN TUNBRIDGE WELLS
Construction projects in Tunbridge Wells range from small commercial refurbishments to large residential developments. Each project will bring risk. Our CDM advisors provide structure and accountability.
Without a properly appointed CDM Principal Designer, you will expose yourself to enforcement action from the Health and Safety Executive. Fines for serious breaches can often reach hundreds of thousands of pounds. Directors can face prosecution. These are real consequences.
Just as importantly, people can be injured or killed when a risk is ignored. Falls from height, structural collapses and uncontrolled fires are not theoretical risks. These happen when planning fails.
Appoint experienced CDM advisors and fire risk assessors to gain:
- Clear communication between all duty holders
- Early identification of design risks
- Compliance with CDM 2015 regulations
- Documented evidence of due diligence
- Confidence that fire safety has been properly considered
We work directly with you.
We review drawings. We attend design meetings. We visit sites. We do not rely on the paperwork alone. A CDM 2015 Principal Designer must actively manage the process. This means challenging assumptions and ensuring cooperation between all parties involved in your project.
As a fire risk assessor, we make practical recommendations and never use generic templates or copied reports. We look at how a building is actually used, and at how the site operates once the job begins.
If you are starting a project in Tunbridge Wells, ask yourself:
- Have I formally appointed a CDM Principal Designer in writing?
- Has fire safety been considered at the design stage?
- Do I have a compliant health and safety file process in place?
If the answer is no, or if you are unsure, now is the time to act.
CDM advisors and fire risk assessors are not there to slow a project down. We are there to ensure it runs safely and legally. In an area like Tunbridge Wells, this means understanding local developments or build types, as well as the expectations of the key stakeholders.
When health and safety is managed properly from the start, projects run smoother. Costs are controlled. Risks are reduced.
You can also meet your legal duties under CDM 2015 with confidence.