COMPLIANCE PATHWAYS 26-06-2026
Workshop Summary
Date: 26 June 2026
Duration: 1 Hour 47 Minutes
Workshop Objective
The sixth workshop in the USHA BIM, Building Safety Act (BSA), and Fire Safety Act (FSA) series focused on strengthening fire safety management within university accommodation and Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs). The session explored the practical implications of the Building Safety Act, competence requirements, resident engagement, and the responsibilities of clients and duty holders in ensuring regulatory compliance. Through expert presentations and discussions, participants examined common industry challenges and shared practical approaches to improving building safety and information management.
Session 1 – Fire Safety in Student Halls of Residence
Keith Todd delivered the opening presentation, providing an overview of the legislative framework governing student accommodation and Higher-Risk Buildings. He explained how the Fire Safety Order, Fire Safety Act, Building Safety Act, and associated regulations interact, highlighting the distinction between fire risk assessments and building safety risk assessments. Keith emphasised that these are separate exercises with different objectives and require appropriately qualified professionals to undertake them.
Drawing on numerous real-world case studies, Keith discussed common issues identified during fire safety reviews, including poor compartmentation, defective fire doors, inadequate smoke control systems, missing fire stopping, unsafe modular construction, and incomplete fire safety documentation. He stressed that many of these problems arise from poor design decisions, incorrect alterations, or advice provided by individuals lacking the necessary competence. Participants were encouraged to understand the original fire strategy of their buildings before making modifications and to appoint suitably qualified specialists when undertaking fire risk assessments, fire engineering, or Building Safety Act compliance work.
Session 2 – Resident Engagement as Risk Management
Melissa White presented on the importance of resident engagement as a key element of building safety rather than simply a compliance exercise. She explained that effective engagement helps build trust, encourages safe behaviours, and reduces operational risks within residential buildings and student accommodation.
Melissa highlighted that residents have different communication needs and proposed categorising occupants according to their level of engagement, vulnerability, and trust. She argued that communication should move beyond mass emails and newsletters towards more personalised approaches such as direct conversations and face-to-face engagement where necessary. The presentation emphasised measuring resident understanding, confidence, and behavioural outcomes rather than simply recording communication activities, reinforcing the importance of maintaining evidence of engagement within the Golden Thread of information.
Panel Discussion and Key Industry Issues
The discussion session focused on practical challenges experienced by organisations implementing the Building Safety Act. Participants examined the growing importance of professional competence, particularly following recent regulatory changes affecting building control professionals and the anticipated regulation of fire risk assessors.
A significant discussion centred on Regulation 38 and the quality of fire safety information provided at handover. Speakers highlighted that clients now have greater responsibility to verify that fire safety information is complete, understandable, and sufficient before accepting a building. Concerns were raised about inconsistent interpretations of Regulation 38, incomplete handover documentation, and the need for clients to exercise greater scrutiny before signing completion documents. The panel agreed that stronger client leadership, clearly defined terms of reference, and independent technical review are essential for ensuring compliance and maintaining accurate building information throughout the asset lifecycle.
Key Takeaways
The workshop reinforced that achieving building safety depends on more than technical compliance alone. Competent professionals, accurate fire safety information, effective resident engagement, and robust client oversight all play critical roles in delivering safe buildings. The discussions highlighted that the Building Safety Act places greater accountability on duty holders throughout the project lifecycle, while also encouraging organisations to improve the quality of information, strengthen governance, and ensure that safety decisions are supported by competent advice and meaningful engagement with building occupants.