What Architects Need to Know About the Building Safety Act and the Principal Designer Role
Since the Building Safety Act 2022 came into force, we’ve seen a rise in questions from architects about their evolving responsibilities—particularly around the Principal Designer role.
Whether you’re working on small residential extensions or large commercial developments, the Act affects how you approach risk, safety, and compliance. And if you’re not already aware, you might be taking on the Principal Designer role by default—even without a formal appointment.
What’s changed?
Under the Building Safety Act, the Principal Designer is now a statutory duty holder responsible for ensuring that building design complies with building regulations and that health and safety are properly considered and coordinated during the design phase.
This means more legal responsibility, more risk, and greater potential exposure to claims, particularly where non-compliance, design defects, or safety issues arise.
According to the RIBA:
“If a domestic client does not appoint a separate Principal Designer in writing, the designer in control of the design phase will automatically become the Principal Designer by default.”
This has raised questions around insurance coverage, especially when the role is taken on informally or unintentionally.
How Does This Affect Your Insurance?
At Clarke Williams, we’re often asked whether this role is covered under existing Professional Indemnity (PI) policies. The answer is – yes, but with caveats.
- If you have disclosed your design and specification work and you’re operating within the scope of what was presented to insurers, the PI cover should extend to these responsibilities.
- However, Principal Designer duties are not always explicitly requested in proposal forms—yet. We expect this to change as the market adapts to the new legal landscape.
As this role involves greater oversight, documentation, and regulatory accountability, insurers are keeping a closer eye on how it’s being handled. We also anticipate more detailed questions around this during renewals.
When Might You Need More Cover?
If you’re handling higher-risk work, overseeing multiple contractors, or working on buildings within the scope of the Act (particularly residential buildings over 18 metres or seven storeys), it may be time to:
✔️ Review your Professional Indemnity cover.
✔️ Consider Directors and Officers (D&O) insurance to protect against personal liability.
✔️ Speak with a broker who understands your obligations and your exposure.
Our Advice to Architects
- Know your duties – If you’re operating as a Principal Designer (even by default), make sure you’re clear on what that entails.
- Disclose your activities – Being transparent about your role and responsibilities helps us ensure your policy responds if needed.
- Document everything – The Act demands accountability, and good record-keeping will protect you in the event of a claim.
If you’re unsure whether your insurance reflects your current role under the Building Safety Act, we’re happy to take a look. We’ve already supported numerous architectural clients in navigating these changes – and can do the same for you.
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