Principal Designer, CDM

01Before construction starts

Under CDM 2015 the Principal Designer plans, manages, monitors and coordinates health and safety in the pre-construction phase. In practice that means the designers cooperate with each other, and foreseeable risks are removed or controlled through the design instead of being passed to site. We gather the pre-construction information, keep a design risk register and make the F10 notification where the project is notifiable.

02Through to completion

Our appointment runs the full duration of the project, from pre-construction to completion. We give a notice of adequacy on the Construction Phase Plan, keep CDM compliance and communication logs, and visit site at commencement and then quarterly through construction. At Practical Completion we prepare and issue the Health and Safety File.

03Alongside the Building Regulations role

The CDM and Building Regulations Principal Designer roles are separate duties under separate legislation. We can hold both on one project as two appointments, so neither gets folded into the other.

04Not ours to carry

The contractor's own health and safety responsibilities stay with the contractor, including method statements and risk assessments. Principal Contractor duties and Building Control fees are also outside this appointment.