Construction - Frequently asked questions

Notifications - F10s

Every day on which construction work is likely to be carried out should be counted, even if the work on that day is of a short duration. This includes holidays and weekends.

The client^[2] has the duty to notify a construction project. In practice however, the client may ask someone else to notify on their behalf.

Maintenance

Principal Designer (PD)

No, not necessarily. To work as a PD^[3], you must be a designer:

You might be an architect, consulting engineer, quantity surveyor or anyone who specifies and alters designs as part of their work
You might also be a contractor/builder, commercial client, tradesperson or anyone who carries out design work, or arranges for or instructs people under your control to do so

You must have the right mix of skills, knowledge, experience and (if an organisation) organisational capability to allow you to carry out all of the functions and responsibilities^[4] of a PD for the project in hand, and be in control of the pre-construction phase.

The client^[5] has the duty to appoint the PD^[6]. If you are no longer involved with the project, the client must appoint another PD. You will still be responsible for the design decisions you made in preparing the original plans. The new PD must then take responsibility for any design decisions made following their appointment.

Yes. You can choose to take on the PD^[7] role yourself. If you do you must have the skills, knowledge, experience and (if an organisation) organisational capability, to carry out all the functions and responsibilities^[8] of the PD.

Small builder

Construction Phase Plan (CPP)

Yes. If you are the only contractor or the principal contractor (PC), you must draw up a CPP (PDF) ^[12]. However, it should be proportionate to the size and scale of the job.

A simple plan before the work starts is usually enough to show that you have thought about health and safety.

If you are a contractor working for a PC^[13], it is the PC who must draw up the CPP.

To help you draw up a CPP for small-scale projects, go to the template CPP (PDF) ^[14], or the CDM Wizard^[15], a free-to-download smartphone app produced by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).

Self-build

Miscellaneous

Yes. Whether you are an individual or an organisation (client^[20], designer^[21], principal designer^[22], contractor^[23] or principal contractor^[24]), you can carry out the role of more than one duty holder. You must have the skills, knowledge, experience and (if an organisation) the organisational capability to carry out all of the functions and responsibilities of each role in a way that secures health and safety.

Further information about CDM 2015 ^[25]

Link URLs in this page

notify projects, and complete the F10 notificationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/forms/notification/f10.htm
clienthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/areyou/commercial-client.htm
PDhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/areyou/principal-designer.htm
responsibilitieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm/2015/principal-designers.htm
clienthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm/2015/responsibilities.htm#client
PDhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/areyou/principal-designer.htm
PDhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/areyou/principal-designer.htm
responsibilitieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm/2015/principal-designers.htm
contractorhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm/2015/contractors.htm
principal contractorhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm/2015/principal-contractors.htm
Are you a small builder…https://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/areyou/builder.htm
CPPhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/cis80.pdf
PChttps://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/areyou/principalcontractor.htm
template CPPhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/cis80.pdf
CDM Wizardhttps://www.citb.co.uk/about-citb/partnerships-and-initiatives/construction-design-and-management-cdm-regulations/cdm-wizard-app/
Are you a contractor?https://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/areyou/contractor.htm
Contractors: roles and responsibilitieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm/2015/contractors.htm
Principal contractors: roles and responsibilitieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm/2015/principal-contractors.htm
The Self Build Portalhttp://www.selfbuildportal.org.uk/healthandsafety
clienthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm/2015/responsibilities.htm#client
designerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/areyou/designer.htm
principal designerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/areyou/principal-designer.htm
contractorhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/areyou/contractor.htm
principal contractorhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/areyou/principalcontractor.htm
Further information about CDM 2015 https://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm/2015/index.htm
Managing health and safety in construction - L153https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l153.htm
A quick guide for clients on CDM 2015 - INDG411https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg411.htm
Construction Phase Plan (CDM 2015) - CIS80https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/cis80.pdf
Notification of construction project (F10)https://www.hse.gov.uk/forms/notification/f10.htm
Legislation: CDM Regulations 2015http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/51/contents/made
CITB: CDM guidance and construction phase plan apphttps://www.citb.co.uk/about-citb/partnerships-and-initiatives/construction-design-and-management-regulations-2015/
Planning Portal: online planning application and building control informationhttps://www.planningportal.co.uk/
Working in Great Britain from overseashttps://www.hse.gov.uk/migrantworkers/index.htm
Safety bulletinshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulletins/index.htm

Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 - Frequently asked questions

Notifications - F10s

When is a construction project 'notifiable'?

Does the 30 working days/500 person days on site include weekends, bank holidays etc?

Who should notify a project?

Maintenance

Does CDM 2015 apply to all maintenance work?

Principal Designer (PD)

I was a CDM co-ordinator under CDM 2007. Can I now work as a principal designer (PD)?

I was an architect/designer on the planning and Building Regulations stages of a project and I am no longer involved with the project. Who will take on the role of principal designer (PD)?

I am a client, can I take on the Principal Designer (PD) role?

Small builder

I am a general builder who only works on small-scale commercial and domestic projects, will CDM 2015 affect me?

Construction Phase Plan (CPP)

As a general builder do I need a CPP for any construction work I do?

Self-build

I want to build my own house, does CDM 2015 apply to me?

Miscellaneous

Can I carry out the role of more than one CDM duty holder on a project?

Link URLs in this page