Building Safety Act 2022: What Every APC Candidate Needs to Know

The Building Safety Act 2022 is the most significant piece of UK building safety legislation in a generation. Prompted by the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 and the subsequent Hackitt Review in 2018, it fundamentally reshapes how buildings are designed, constructed, and managed. APC panels across multiple pathways are already

testing candidates on it — you need to know it well.

The Act received Royal Assent in April 2022 and most of its provisions are now in force. It is administered by the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), which sits within the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The BSR oversees the new regulatory regime for higher-risk buildings, maintains a national register of occupied high-rise residential buildings, and holds enforcement powers that did not previously exist. Whatever your pathway, a panel asking about current issues will expect you to name the Act, outline its structure, and give a practical example from your experience.

The Act creates a stringent regulatory regime for higher-risk buildings (HRBs), defined as residential buildings of at least 18 metres or 7 storeys containing two or more residential units. That threshold is essential knowledge — expect to be asked it directly.