In this Insight, Olivia Turner considers the key features of the ABCA form for the Appointment of a Building Control Approver that clients should be aware of. Part of the transformation of the building safety regime...more
Over six months has passed since many of the principal measures in the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA) came into force on 1 October 2023 in what was one of the most comprehensive reforms of building safety legislation in the...more
The U.S. Department of Energy recently released the first federal blueprint to decarbonize the building sector, which accounts for over a third of the nation’s planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. This plan, developed by...more
In this Insight, first published in PLC, Kim Roberts, Katharine Tulloch and Corinna Whittle consider the key changes that parties may want to make to their construction contracts to take account of the new regulatory regime...more
2024 has brought with it a raft of new building safety legislation. Here is an update on what’s new – particularly in relation to building assessment certificates and the golden thread of information....more
In our update a year ago, we reported on the first remediation contribution order (RCO) made by the First Tier Tribunal (FTT) under section 124 of the Building Safety Act 2022. In Triathlon Homes LLP v Stratford Village...more
In this Insight, first published in PLC, Freya Scott discusses the RICS Sustainability Report 2023, considers some of the barriers to achieving the carbon net zero goal by 2050 and what can be done to overcome these. ...more
Lien on Me – Florida Edition 2023 - Florida’s Construction Lien Law, F.S. 713.001 et seq., was recently amended and includes important changes effective October 1, 2023, about which contractors should know. The following is...more
Florida Statute 2023-203: Ensuring Building Safety in the Wake of Tragedies - It often takes a crisis for society and government to react. Whether it be seat belts, smoking, or building safety, unfortunately, catastrophe can...more
1 October is the deadline for registering higher-risk buildings. Here is a brief recap on everything you need to know about registration. Anyone responsible for the safety of a higher-risk building (over 18 metres, or 7...more
On 17 August 2023, the government published details of the design, construction and occupation regimes which will be introduced for higher-risk buildings, coming into effect on 1 October 2023. Those affected should...more
The responsible actors scheme – which requires residential property developers to agree to remediate fire safety defects in relevant buildings, or face being barred from securing planning permission or building control...more
Since the major fire event at Grenfell Tower in June 2017, a significant period of cultural and professional change has occurred within the construction industry in regard to fire safety. During this period, we have seen the...more
US Lawmakers Call to Modernize OSHA as Hundreds Die on the Job Each Day - “Reintroduced federal legislation pushes to expand Osha coverage in 24 states not currently covered by the act.” Why this is important: On...more
In this second article in our three-part smart buildings series, we ask: is retrofitting an existing building worth it? Smart buildings utilise integrated technology systems to optimise energy usage and improve building...more
Buildings account for more than 70% of the greenhouse gas emissions in New York City (NYC). To address this problem, NYC has enacted a first-of-its-kind regulation, Local Law 97 (LL97), which establishes increasingly...more
The registration process for higher-risk buildings opened on 12 April 2023, and anyone responsible for registration must make sure their building has been registered by 1 October 2023, or face a possible fine or imprisonment....more
EEOC Increases Scrutiny on Discrimination and Harassment in the Construction Industry as Federal Infrastructure Dollars Start Flowing - The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) plans to prioritize its efforts to...more
The Technology and Construction Court has delivered a series of High Court judgments (in Martlet Homes Ltd v Mulalley & Co Ltd; and LDC (Portfolio One) Ltd v George Downing Construction Ltd and European Sheeting Ltd) in...more
In a previous blog, I explored one aspect of the statutory reallocation of risk for the costs of works to remedy building safety issues in the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA 2022). The focus of that blog was the new landlord’s...more
The Building Safety Act 2022 imposes new safety duties on building owners and landlords and new liabilities for non-compliance. When landed with a bill for remedial works, landlords must now also look to the restrictions on...more
The Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA 2022) creates a whole new world of building safety regulation and litigation. A key legislative objective was to regulate and direct responsibility for the cost of works to remedy building...more
The Building Safety Act 2022 received royal assent on 28 April 2022, with its provisions coming into force over the following 18-month period. One of the key elements of the Act is the introduction of specific building...more
Massachusetts will soon see significant updates to the energy codes that govern the construction and alteration of buildings throughout the Commonwealth. As required by the 2021 climate bill, the Massachusetts Department of...more
Should an old cottage be upgraded to the current code by a new owner? When can a building component be “grandfathered?” Who should pay for the code upgrades following a property loss claim? These are common questions...more