Building Safety Act · Mandatory · Completion

Building Assessment Certificate Application

An application to the Building Safety Regulator for a Building Assessment Certificate.

Last reviewed: 29 March 2026 — This guide reflects UK law as of this date. BSA 2022 remains current with no amendments enacted as of 29 March 2026. Next scheduled review: 29 March 2027.

Legal basis	Building Safety Act 2022 ss.79–82
Status	Mandatory — all occupied higher-risk buildings
Responsibility	Principal Accountable Person (PAP)
Application deadline	28 days from receiving BSR invitation to apply
Display	BAC must be displayed in a conspicuous position within the building

1. The Building Assessment Certificate — Ongoing Accountability for Occupied HRBs

The Building Assessment Certificate represents the BSR's conclusion that the Principal Accountable Person is fulfilling their statutory duties in relation to the occupied HRB. It is not a fire risk assessment; it is not a structural survey. It is an assessment of the adequacy of the PAP's safety management arrangements — whether the PAP knows their building, has assessed its risks, and is managing them systematically. The BAC process creates ongoing accountability for building safety that did not exist before the BSA.

PAPs who prepare thoroughly — with a well-evidenced Safety Case Report, a functioning Safety Management System, an active Resident Engagement Strategy, and an up-to-date golden thread — will find the BAC application process manageable. PAPs who have not invested in safety management will find the BSR's assessment revealing deficiencies that must be addressed before the BAC is issued.

The typical Safety Case Report that achieves a BAC is 30–60 pages — evidence-based, not generic, demonstrating reasoning not just listing measures

BSR data from the first BAC application period: the shortest report was 2.5 pages (inadequate); the longest was 732 pages; the typical effective report was 30–60 pages. The BSR found that many reports simply listed safety measures without demonstrating how risks had been assessed, why the measures were chosen, and how they would be monitored. A building-specific, evidence-based report that demonstrates reasoning and a functional safety management system is what the BSR is looking for.

2. BAC Application — What Must Be in Place

The following table sets out what must be in place before a BAC application is submitted to the BSR. Each element must be current, complete, and evidenced.

Element	Detail
BSR registration	Building registered with BSR. Registration number confirmed.
Key building information	Submitted to BSR: height, storeys, units, external wall details, APs and PAP details.
Safety Case Report	Current, complete Safety Case Report (K4). Evidence-based. Building-specific. Within date.
Safety Case evidence	The underlying safety case evidence — inspections, assessments, maintenance records — that the Safety Case Report draws on.
Golden thread	Digitally maintained. Current. Accessible to residents and BSR. Includes key building information.
Safety Management System	Documented SMS: roles; procedures; monitoring; review. Evidence of operation.
Resident Engagement Strategy	In place and operational. Residents have been consulted and involved in safety decisions. See K11.
Mandatory Occurrence Reporting	MOR system operational. Any reports made since occupation — records and response.
Complaints system	System for residents to report safety concerns. Records of concerns and responses.
BAC display plan	Arrangements for displaying the BAC in the building once issued.

3. Common Mistakes

Not having the Safety Case Report ready when invited to apply for the BAC

The BSR gives 28 days from invitation to apply. A PAP who has not prepared their Safety Case Report in advance of the invitation will struggle to produce an adequate report in 28 days. Preparation should begin at occupation — not when the invitation is received.

Not operating the MOR system from day one of occupation

The mandatory occurrence reporting system must be operational from the point of occupation. If the PAP receives a BAC application invitation and has no MOR system and no MOR records, this is a gap that will be identified by the BSR.

Not maintaining a current golden thread after handover from the contractor

The golden thread handed over at Gateway 3 is accurate at the point of handover. Changes in occupation — alterations, maintenance, equipment replacement — must be added to the golden thread. A golden thread that has not been updated since handover is not current.

Safety Case Report that is not building-specific

A generic Safety Case Report template completed with the building's name and address but without building-specific risk assessment, evidence of inspections, or demonstration of how the SMS operates for this building will be found inadequate by the BSR. Every report must be tailored to the specific building.

Assuming BAC = one-off compliance event

The BAC is not a permanent certificate. It must be kept current — updated when material changes occur; reviewed periodically. The BSR may require an updated Safety Case Report and a review of the BAC. Ongoing compliance requires ongoing safety management, not a one-time document exercise.

4. Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if the PAP fails to apply for the BAC when required?▾

Section 79(3) of the BSA: failure to comply with a BSR requirement to apply for a BAC is a breach of a statutory duty. The BSR can issue a compliance notice requiring the PAP to apply. Continued non-compliance can lead to special measures proceedings — where the BSR takes over management of the building’s safety. This is a serious enforcement tool with significant implications for building ownership.

Does the BAC need to be renewed?▾

The BSA does not prescribe a fixed renewal period for the BAC. The PAP must notify the BSR if there are material changes that affect the Safety Case or safety arrangements. The BSR may require a new Safety Case Report and may reassess the BAC. In practice, PAPs should treat the BAC as requiring periodic review — at minimum aligned with the Safety Case review cycle — and should apply for a new BAC whenever material changes are made.

Can a building management company be the PAP?▾

Yes — the PAP is whoever holds a legal estate in any part of the common parts OR has a repairing obligation for the common parts. This could be: the freeholder; a commonhold association; a management company with contractual responsibility for common parts. Where a management company takes on the role of PAP (under a contract with the freeholder), they become responsible for all PAP duties — including the Safety Case and BAC.

How does the BAC relate to fire risk assessments under the RRO?▾

The Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to the common parts of residential buildings and is the responsibility of the Responsible Person under the RRO (often the same as the PAP). The FRA is not replaced by the BAC process — both are required. The FRA provides the operational fire safety assessment; the Safety Case Report is the BSA’s higher-level assessment of fire AND structural risks. For HRBs, both must be maintained and kept current.

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