CDM 2015 advisor and Principal Designer
Pragmatic Principal Designer and client advisor support under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. We keep the paperwork lean and the site safe.
Six duty holders, one coordinated plan
CDM 2015 places legal duties on every party in a construction project. We unblock the client and Principal Designer roles, then make sure the rest of the team plays back into them.
Make suitable arrangements for managing the project, appoint duty holders in writing, ensure pre-construction information is shared, and check the CPP and H&S file are produced.
Plan, manage, monitor and coordinate H&S in the pre-construction phase. Identify, eliminate or control foreseeable risks. Brief designers and prepare the H&S file.
Plan, manage, monitor and coordinate the construction phase. Produce and police the Construction Phase Plan. Consult and engage workers.
Eliminate foreseeable risks during design through the general principles of prevention, and share information about residual risks with the project team.
Plan, manage and monitor your own works. Coordinate with others. Train, brief and supervise workers. Comply with the CPP.
Be consulted on H&S matters, report risks, take reasonable care, and follow training and instructions.
Deliverables across every RIBA stage
The artefacts an HSE inspector would expect to see if they walked onto your site tomorrow.
- F10 notification to HSE for notifiable projects (over 500 person days or more than 30 working days with 20+ workers simultaneously)
- Pre-construction information pack drawn from client briefs, surveys and existing H&S file
- Designer Risk Assessment (DRA) workshops with the design team
- Designer risk register maintained through RIBA stages 2 to 4
- Construction Phase Plan review against Appendix 3 of L153
- Site inductions and pre-start meeting attendance
- Periodic site visits with safety observation reports
- H&S file compiled and handed to the client at practical completion
Four stages, no surprises
- 1
Project setup
Client duty briefing, appointment letters drafted, notifiability assessed and F10 lodged if required.
- 2
Pre-construction
PCI pack assembled, DRA workshops run with designers, residual risks captured and circulated.
- 3
Construction phase
CPP reviewed, periodic site inspections, ongoing PD coordination, change control through design freezes.
- 4
Handover
H&S file finalised in accessible format, residual risks listed, future-works information captured for the building owner.
Common questions from clients
When does a project need to be notified to HSE?
A project is notifiable when construction is expected to last longer than 30 working days with more than 20 workers working simultaneously at any point, OR exceed 500 person days. The client notifies via the F10 form. We handle this on your behalf.
Can the client also be the Principal Designer?
Yes, where the client has the in-house skills, knowledge, experience and (if an organisation) the organisational capability. Most commercial clients prefer to appoint an external PD to evidence competency objectively, which is what we provide.
Do domestic projects need a Principal Designer?
Yes, on any project with more than one contractor. For domestic clients the duties default to the Principal Contractor, but a domestic client may still appoint a PD in writing.
How do you charge for CDM advisor work?
Either a fixed fee against an agreed scope of services per RIBA stage, or a day-rate retainer for portfolio clients. Either way, we agree the fee at the outset against a written scope.
Have a project that needs a Principal Designer?
Tell us the project value, RIBA stage and start date. We'll come back with a fixed-fee scope within two working days.