Principal Designer

Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015

The latest revision of the regulations in 2015 created the role of Principal Designer, for which we undertook training accredited by the Association for Project Safety (APS).

We are associate members of the APS, who are a leading professional institution in the field of construction health and safety.

We have acted in the various statutory roles created since the introduction of theConstruction (Design and Management) Regulations in 1994. The regulations are accredited with having substantially reduced the number of fatal and serious injuries within the construction industry.

Testimonials

Cambridge University Library

“It was great to have you on board Carl. A godsend at a critical moment. I hope our paths cross again. I’ll certainly bear you in mind when I’m in charge of similar projects in future. All best wishes, Chris.”

CJ Young - Librarian

Testimonials

7 Market Place, Hingham

"Carl Fox of Fox Associates, was our project manager for the external renovation, including re-roofing of our challenging old house. He managed the selection of the main contractors and throughout supervised the complicated work with scrupulous attention to detail and watchfulness. A good working relationship with contractors and clients was maintained with tact and humour. We were constantly thankful to be under his calm and considerate stewardship."

Dr. & Mrs. A.R.F. Norman - Property Owners

Testimonials

Norwich City Council

“I have found the service offered by Fox Associates to be exemplary in all respects. Knowledge and application of legislative requirements is impressive, negotiating skills are well developed and ability to work to a programme or deadline is second nature.”

D Bishop - Programme Leader

Testimonials

University of Cambridge

“The service supplied by Fox Associates was exemplary in all areas of the project work. The professionalism shown throughout guaranteed a fully delivered project.”

M Badcock - Mechanical Engineer, Estate Management

Testimonials

Nuvia Ltd

“At the end of this project I would express my appreciation of the professional way that Carl Fox managed the project in often difficult circumstances. It is a credit to him and the team that this radiological liability has been successfully removed without significant safety concerns.”

K Stevens - Principal Radiological Decommissioning Consultant

Testimonials

University of Cambridge

“Carl’s strength was his ability to manage a complex team of specialist contractors in order to bring the project in on time and to budget without compromising the client’s exacting brief. His dedication and commitment to achieving a successful project outcome was impressive. His ability to communicate at all levels and ensure a thorough understanding of the complex issues was equally impressive as was his professionalism.”

Dr. M Glendenning - Department of Chemistry, Chemical Laboratory Safety Officer

The Principal Designer

A Principal designer is a designer (from an organisation or an individual) who is appointed by the Client to take control of the pre-construction phase of any project involving more than one contractor.

Principal Designers have an important role in influencing how the risks to health and safety are managed throughout a project.

Design decisions made during the pre-construction phase have a significant influence in ensuring the project is delivered in a way that secures the health and safety of everyone affected by the work.

Client confidence

Our clients, whether a large corporation or an individual property owner, can have complete confidence that we provide expert, impartial advice at every stage of the appointment.

Acting as Principal Designers Fox Associates complete the following tasks:

Coordination

Plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety in the pre-construction phase. In doing so they must take account of relevant information (such as an existing health and safety file) that might affect design work carried out both before and after the construction phase has started.

Advising the Client

Help and advise the client in bringing together pre-construction information, and provide the information designers and contractors to carry out their duties.

Working with designers

Work with any other designers on the project to eliminate foreseeable health and safety risks to anyone affected by the work and, where that is not possible, take steps to reduce or control those risks

Communication & cooperation

Ensure that everyone involved in the pre-construction phase communicates and cooperates, coordinating their work wherever required.

Liaison with the contractor

Liaise with the principal contractor, keeping them informed of any risks that need to be controlled during the construction phase.

Domestic Clients

On a domestic client project where the domestic client does not appoint a principal designer, the role of the principal designer must be carried out by the designer in control of the pre-construction phase.

When working for a domestic client, the client duties will normally be taken on by another duty holder (often the principal contractor on projects involving more than one contractor). However, the principal designer can enter into a written agreement with the domestic client to take on the client duties in addition to their own.

How we differ from our competitors

As a chartered building surveying and project management practice, we are clearly differentiated from the rest of the market by our enhanced technical knowledge and professional standards.

We are regulated by the RICS, the world’s leading professional body for qualifications and professional standards in construction, property, land and infrastructure.