Since new legislation in 2015, the role of ‘principal designer’ has been one passed around like an unwanted gift. The principal designer must establish a basic standard of Health and Safety practices throughout any given construction project, and theoretically, anyone with the relevant skills, knowledge and experience in Health and Safety could be the principal designer.
So surely some kind of health and safety administrator would be the best option to free up the architect’s time to create and design? Actually, in the 2015 CDM Regulations, there was a strong drive for the architect to be the principal designer.
Why is an architect the best principal designer?
With all of these overwhelming arguments for the architect being the principal designer, then why in December 2017 – nearly 3 years after the regulations were introduced – were only 60% of RIBA architects or architectural practices offering principal designer services?
The honest answer is most likely time and confidence. Technology is to play a greater role in encouraging architects to step out of their comfort zone a little for the greater good. With time-saving methodology and mobile technology, architects can provide the best possible service by wearing the hat of both an artist and designer of buildings, and a safe guarder of those building and living in it.
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