How to Comply

The Building Safety Act 2022 and BS8539 mark a significant step in ensuring the safety of buildings, particularly those classified as safety critical High-Risk Buildings. Compliance with these regulations requires adopting best practices at every stage of design, construction, and maintenance. fischer, with its comprehensive range of products and support services, assists in this process, helping stakeholders meeting legislative requirements while maintaining efficiency and safety.

To understand how fischer can assist with compliance, we shall highlight the key recommendations for improvements in BSA 2022:

  • Information management related to building’s safety via The Golden Thread
  • Approval regime for HRBs via The Project Gateways
  • Competency of all Duty Holders

fischer takes safety and best practice very seriously. For compliance with The Golden Thread and The Project Gateways, we offer:

1. Safe ETA-Approved Products

The foundation of compliance starts with using anchors that meet the highest safety standards. fischer provides a wide selection of ETA (European Technical Assessment) approved products, ensuring safety-critical applications meet the demands of the Building Safety Act and BS8539. These assessments provide assurance that the anchors have undergone rigorous independent testing in accordance with the relevant EAD European Assessment Document, ensuring reliability in diverse base materials and under various installations conditions. Published performance data for products with an ETA offer comprehensive and independently verified values required for correct specifications,

2. The Golden Thread - Quality of Product Information

Providing correct product information and keeping all project stakeholders informed is critical for compliance. fischer ensures that technical specifications and performance data for their products, as per BSA 2022 Golden Thread’s requirements, are always:

  • up to date
  • accurate
  • accessible
  • unambiguous.

To manage accessibility effectively, these are readily accessible via:

  • Website: fischer.co.uk provides a wealth of technical information and guidance.
  • Mobile Apps: The fischer PRO app is available for quick access to product selectors and technical details:
  • BIM Modelling Resources: The Building Information Modelling (BIM) platform ensures seamless integration of fischer products into your digital project plans. Learn more at fischer BIM Resources.

These resources empower engineers, contractors, and specifiers to make informed decisions, eliminate errors, ensure accurate specifications and installations.

 

3. Competency of stake holders

To achieve compliance with Competencies of the duty holders’ requirements, fischer supports the industry by providing training programs tailored to BS8539 and the Building Safety Act. These include:

  • Accredited CPDs
  • Demonstrations and practical on-site training sessions so called Tool-Box-Talks
  • Online training portals

These sessions equip professionals with the skills needed to select, design, and install anchors correctly. Importantly, these trainings help stakeholders understand their roles and responsibilities under BS8539.

 

4. The Project Gateways - Design Support

To ensure compliance with safety-critical requirements, making sure correct products are specified for the given applications, in accordance with the latest design codes utilising correct performance data, fischer offers expert design support, including:

  • A technical helpline: Available for immediate guidance.
  • Specification assistance: Ensuring that designs meet the project's safety and performance criteria.
  • Free design software – FiXperience Suite: A comprehensive tool that includes modules like C-FIX for anchor design and other calculation modules tailored to specific applications. This software simplifies complex calculations, ensuring designs align with BS8539's principles and safety standards.
  • Independently validated performance data via ETAs and UKTAs

With early engagements during project design stage, our aim is to assist with product specifications, ensuring all design assumptions are met correctly. In case original specification needs to be changed or different design criteria need to be considered, fischer’s expertise extends to change management, ensuring that value engineering decisions during the construction phase don’t compromise safety. To do so, any change of specification follows the procedures as per requirements of BSA 2020 Project Gateways and BS8539:2012+A1:2021 Clause 10 (Change management – alternative anchors).

 

5. On-Site Support for Real-World Applications

fischer's extensive network of engineers and technicians provides crucial on-site assistance:

  • Site Consultations: Specialists evaluate real-world conditions and guide proper fixing installations.
  • Free Toolbox Talks: Informative sessions delivered in-person or online to improve understanding of product use and compliance.
  • Site Testing: Conducted in accordance with BS8539 and CFA guidelines by accredited testers, these tests ensure that fixings meet the necessary safety requirements in specific base materials.

 

6. Meeting BS8539 Stakeholder Responsibilities

BS8539 outlines clear responsibilities for stakeholders at every stage of the project lifecycle, from designers and specifiers to contractors and installers. fischer’s services and products help fulfil these responsibilities, ensuring that:

  • Specified fixings are appropriate for the intended base material.
  • Test data is available to verify the performance of anchors in unknown base materials.
  • Any deviations in specifications are handled with proper technical assessments and approvals.

 

7. A Single Solution for Compliance

Using fischer as a partner simplifies the process of meeting compliance. By combining state-of-the-art products, accurate information, expert design and training support, and a team of on-site specialists, fischer ensures every project not only meets but exceeds the standards set by BS8539 and the Building Safety Act.

 

Final Thoughts

Compliance with BS8539 and the Building Safety Act is not just a matter of meeting legal obligations; it is about prioritising safety and ensuring the long-term integrity of structures. fischer provides an all-encompassing solution that helps industry professionals navigate the complexities of these regulations with confidence.

For more information or support with your project, contact fischer’s technical helpline or explore their training programs to enhance your understanding of compliance.

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