CDM 2015 Core · Mandatory · Pre-Construction

Pre-Construction Information Pack

The Pre-Construction Information Pack compiles all known project hazards, site conditions, and design assumptions before construction begins. It enables the principal contractor to prepare the construction phase plan and ensures designers and contractors have the information needed to plan safe work. Under CDM 2015, the client must ensure this information is provided as early as possible.

Last reviewed: 29 March 2026 — This guide reflects UK law as of this date. CDM 2015 Reg 4(4) remains current with no amendments enacted as of 29 March 2026. Next scheduled review: 29 March 2027.

Legal basis	Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, Regulation 4(4)
Applies to	ALL construction projects in Great Britain — commercial and domestic
Who is responsible	The client (commercial) / contractor or PC (domestic). See Section 3.
When required	As soon as practicable — before any designer or contractor is appointed
Mandatory?	Yes — the duty to provide pre-construction information is mandatory. What varies is the format and depth, not whether the duty exists.
Enforcing authority	Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
Maximum penalty	Unlimited fine and/or up to 2 years imprisonment (HSWA 1974, s.33)

1. What Is a Pre-Construction Information Pack?

If you've ever been handed a folder of surveys, drawings, and health and safety notes before starting work on a site, you've already encountered pre-construction information. It is one of the most fundamental requirements in UK construction compliance — and one of the most misunderstood.

A Pre-Construction Information Pack (commonly called a PCIP or PCI) brings together all the health and safety information about a site and proposed works that is already known before construction begins. Its purpose is to make sure everyone involved — designers, contractors, subcontractors — can plan their work safely, with full knowledge of the hazards and constraints they will encounter.

CDM 2015 Regulation 2 defines pre-construction information as:

“...information in the client's possession or which is reasonably obtainable by or on behalf of the client, which is relevant to the construction work and is of an appropriate level of detail and proportionate to the risks involved...” — CDM 2015 Regulation 2 (Interpretation)

Crucially, the regulations do not prescribe a specific format or length. The duty is to provide the information — not to produce a document in a particular layout. In practice, for any commercial project, a written, structured document is the only practical and defensible way to demonstrate compliance. For low-risk domestic work, a proportionate response may be significantly simpler.

What it is NOT

The PCIP is commonly confused with the Construction Phase Plan (CPP). They are separate documents with different purposes, produced by different parties. The PCIP describes what is known about the site BEFORE work begins. The CPP describes how the contractor will manage safety DURING construction. One feeds into the other — you cannot write a proper CPP without the PCIP.

2. Is It a Legal Requirement?

The duty to provide pre-construction information is mandatory under CDM 2015 Regulation 4(4). It applies to every construction project in Great Britain — there are no exemptions based on project size, duration, or value. However, understanding what mandatory actually means here requires being precise about three distinct things:

The duty	MANDATORY — the obligation to provide pre-construction information cannot be opted out of by any party on any project.
The format	NOT prescribed — the law does not require a specific document format. The information must be in a ‘convenient form, clear, concise and easily understandable’ (HSE L153).
The depth	PROPORTIONATE — the level of detail must reflect the complexity of the project and the scale of the risks involved.

In practice, what this means for different project types:

Commercial projects of any size: A written, structured PCIP is effectively always required. An informal verbal briefing would not withstand HSE scrutiny, would provide no audit trail, and would not allow contractors to properly price or plan the work.
Notifiable projects (over 30 working days with more than 20 simultaneous workers, or exceeding 500 person-days): A comprehensive written PCIP is essential. These projects attract HSE oversight.
Domestic projects — single contractor: CDM duties transfer to the contractor. The HSE says this ‘should involve little more than what they normally do in managing health and safety risks’ for low-complexity work.
Domestic projects — multiple contractors: The duties pass to the principal contractor. A written CPP is required, and adequate pre-construction information must feed into it.

The proportionality principle does not mean ‘exempt’

Some contractors incorrectly assume that small or domestic projects have no CDM obligations. This is wrong. Proportionality affects the depth of the response — not whether the duty exists. Even on a simple domestic kitchen installation, the contractor takes on the client's CDM duties and must at minimum have considered what site-specific information is relevant before starting work.

When a formal written PCIP is effectively always required:

Any commercial project — regardless of size, value, or duration
Any project involving refurbishment or demolition of a pre-2000 building
Any project involving known ground hazards, contamination, or complex services
Any project where there are multiple contractors or subcontractors
Any notifiable project (F10 threshold met)
Any project where the contractor could reasonably be questioned by the HSE

Regulation: Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015

Statutory instrument: SI 2015/51

Specific provision: Regulation 4(4) — client duty to provide pre-construction information

Supporting guidance: HSE L153 — Managing Health and Safety in Construction (2015), Appendix 2

Current as of: March 2026 — CDM 2015 remains in force with no amendments enacted

Enforcing authority: Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

Domestic clients: CDM 2015 Reg 7 — duties transfer to contractor/principal contractor

3. Who Is Responsible?

CDM 2015 creates a clear chain of responsibility. Who holds the duty depends on whether the client is commercial or domestic, and how many contractors are involved.

Commercial clients

The client holds primary legal responsibility for providing pre-construction information. On projects involving more than one contractor, the Principal Designer is expected to assist the client in compiling it — but this does not transfer the legal duty. The client remains accountable.

Role	Responsibility under CDM 2015
Client	Legally responsible for providing the PCIP to all designers and contractors. Must provide it 'as soon as practicable.' Cannot delegate this legal duty, though can delegate the practical work of compilation.
Principal Designer	Assists the client in compiling the PCIP. Coordinates H&S information from the design team. Provides it to designers and contractors in a convenient form. Does NOT replace the client's duty.
Designers	Must provide relevant H&S information to the Principal Designer for inclusion in the PCIP. Must take the PCIP into account when preparing or modifying designs.
Principal Contractor	Recipient of the PCIP. Must use it to prepare the Construction Phase Plan. Has no responsibility to produce the PCIP — they receive it.
Contractors	Recipients of the PCIP. Must be provided with it before or at appointment. Must use the information when planning their work.

Domestic clients

Domestic clients — individuals having work done on their own home, not connected to a business — are subject to CDM 2015, but their specific client duties under Regulations 4, 6, and 8 automatically transfer to other duty holders:

Single contractor project: the contractor takes on the client's duties.
Multiple contractor project: the principal contractor takes on the client's duties.
Written agreement option: a domestic client can agree in writing with the principal designer for the PD to take on client duties instead.

The Wren Kitchen example

If a homeowner buys a kitchen from Wren and has a single kitchen fitter install it, the fitter takes on the domestic client CDM duties. For a straightforward kitchen installation with no unusual hazards, the ‘pre-construction information’ may simply be the fitter's knowledge of the service locations, the age of the property, and any known site constraints — proportionate to the risk. A formal written PCIP is not legally required in this scenario. However, if the property was built before 2000 and the fitter needs to cut through walls or floors, an asbestos check becomes relevant. The duty to consider pre-construction information does not disappear — only the required depth of response changes.

4. When Does It Need to Be Produced?

As early as possible — ideally at concept stage, and certainly before any designer or contractor is appointed or invited to tender. CDM 2015 Regulation 4(4) uses the phrase ‘as soon as is practicable.’

Hard legal rule

Pre-construction information must be provided BEFORE appointment — not when work starts. Contractors bidding for work are entitled to this information so they can properly price and programme H&S requirements. Providing it after contracts are signed is a breach of the regulations and can expose the client to HSE enforcement action.

The PCIP is a live document— it must be updated as new information emerges. If a ground investigation reveals contamination, if an asbestos survey finds ACMs, or if the design changes significantly, the PCIP must be updated and re-issued to all relevant parties. There is no point at which it is ‘finished’ — it continues to evolve until works begin, and may require further updates during construction if significant new site information comes to light.

5. What Must It Contain?

CDM 2015 sets the broad requirement; HSE L153 Appendix 2 sets out the detailed content framework. The overriding principle is proportionality — the PCIP must contain information that is relevant to this project and proportionate to its risks. Generic information about normal construction hazards that any competent contractor would already know does not need to be included.

Project Description and Programme

Scope and nature of works; site address and boundary; key dates — planned start and completion; client details and key contact; whether HSE notification (F10) is required.

Project Team and Duty Holders

Client name and contact; Principal Designer (if appointed); Principal Contractor (if appointed); designers already engaged; any CDM advisor or H&S consultant.

Site Description, Access and Constraints

Site boundaries and access points; adjacent land uses and sensitive neighbours; vehicle and delivery restrictions; parking and storage; working hours restrictions; site security requirements; environmental or planning restrictions.

Ground Conditions and Existing Services

Known ground conditions (made ground, waterlogging, contamination); ground investigation reports if available; underground structures; locations of gas, electricity, water, telecoms, and drainage — with service plans where held; whether a CAT scan has been carried out.

Existing Structures

Structural form, age, condition; fragile surfaces, roofs or materials; existing fall arrest anchor points; previous structural modifications; known fire damage, subsidence or deterioration; structural drawings if available.

Hazardous Materials

Asbestos — survey results are essential for any pre-2000 building. Contaminated land survey results; lead paint; hazardous materials in existing structures or stored on site; health risks from the client's current activities on site.

Significant Design and Construction Hazards

Design assumptions affecting how works must be carried out; residual design risks not eliminated through design; materials requiring particular precautions; high-risk activities identified during design; interfacing activities.

H&S Management Arrangements

Welfare facilities; client's site rules (to be incorporated into the CPP); emergency arrangements and nearest A&E; minimum PPE requirements; drug and alcohol policy; environmental constraints and noise/dust restrictions.

Existing Health and Safety File

If a H&S File exists from previous works, it must be referenced and made available. Location and access method must be stated. Relevant extracts should be incorporated.

Asbestos — the most critical section

For any refurbishment, demolition, or structural work on a building constructed before 2000, an appropriate asbestos survey is required before the PCIP can be considered complete. A management survey is needed for normal maintenance. A refurbishment/demolition survey is required before any structural work begins. These must be carried out by a competent surveyor — the contractor cannot self-certify.

6. Why Does It Matter?

The safety case

Construction is the most dangerous industry sector in Great Britain. In the year to March 2025, 35 construction workers were killed at work — the highest of any sector, accounting for 28% of all workplace fatalities despite construction representing only 6% of the workforce. More than half of all construction deaths are caused by falls from height, averaging 21 deaths per year over the past five years.

Many of the worst construction accidents happen when workers encounter hazards they didn't know about — an unexpected service strike, asbestos they weren't told was there, unstable ground that wasn't disclosed, a fragile roof no one had documented. Properly compiled pre-construction information exists specifically to prevent this.

The legal consequences

Failure to provide adequate pre-construction information exposes the client to HSE enforcement action: improvement notices, prohibition notices (stopping work immediately), or criminal prosecution. CDM 2015 prosecutions are increasing. Real examples from recent cases:

£410,000 total fine — October 2023: a client, principal designer, and principal contractor were all convicted after a slate tile fell from a hotel roof during renovation works and injured a child.
£170,000 fine — client convicted for failing to make suitable management arrangements, including failure to ensure asbestos removal was properly managed.
£165,000 fine — June 2025: contractor fined for blatant disregard of fire safety and CDM obligations during construction works.

There is no upper limit on Crown Court fines. Individuals face up to 2 years imprisonment. The HSE's Fee for Intervention scheme currently charges £129 per hour— meaning even an investigation that doesn't result in prosecution will generate a bill.

The commercial reality

Inadequate pre-construction information creates predictable commercial damage. Contractors who receive insufficient information price tenders blind — then submit variation claims when they find what they weren't told. This fuels the disputes that are endemic in UK construction. A PCIP done properly is one of the most effective dispute-prevention tools available to any commercial client.

7. Common Mistakes

Treating it as an afterthought after appointment

The PCIP must be available before contractors are appointed or invited to tender. Providing it on day one of works is a breach — and means contractors have already priced without information they were legally entitled to.

Using a generic template without completing the project-specific sections

A blank or near-blank PCIP — with sections marked 'N/A' or 'none known' without any evidence of enquiry — does not meet the legal requirement. 'Reasonably obtainable' means the client must actively seek information, not assume the absence of hazards.

Failing to commission an asbestos survey on pre-2000 buildings

For refurbishment or demolition of any pre-2000 structure, a refurbishment or demolition survey is legally required before structural work begins. Omitting it is one of the most common and costly failures.

Not distributing it to all required parties and keeping no record

CDM 2015 requires the PCIP to be provided to every designer and contractor appointed, and those being considered for appointment. Keeping no distribution record is a compliance failure that creates legal exposure.

Treating it as a one-time document rather than a live one

If a ground investigation reveals contamination, if the design changes significantly, or if new information about services emerges, the PCIP must be updated and re-issued.

Confusing the PCIP with the Construction Phase Plan

These are separate documents with different purposes, producers, and timing. The PCIP is the input; the CPP is the output the contractor produces using it.

Assuming a small or domestic project needs nothing

CDM 2015 has no minimum size threshold for the pre-construction information duty. Proportionality affects depth, not existence.

8. How It Relates to Other Documents

The PCIP sits at the beginning of the CDM documentation chain. Understanding the relationships prevents the confusion that leads to one document being substituted for another.

Document	Relationship to the PCIP
Construction Phase Plan	The CPP is produced by the Principal Contractor using the PCIP as its primary input. The PCIP describes what hazards and conditions exist; the CPP describes how the contractor will manage them.
Health and Safety File	The H&S File is the project's closing document. It draws on information from the PCIP, updated with what was actually found during construction. Any pre-existing H&S File must be referenced in the new PCIP.
F10 Notification	A separate HSE notification required when a project is notifiable. Both are required on notifiable projects — one does not substitute for the other.
Asbestos Survey	Where asbestos surveys have been carried out, the results must be included in or referenced by the PCIP.
Ground Investigation Report	A GIR must be included in or explicitly referenced by the PCIP where one exists. Its findings directly inform the ground conditions section.
RAMS	Risk Assessments and Method Statements are produced by contractors using the PCIP as a starting point. They are separate documents — not part of the PCIP itself.

9. A Real-World Example

A medium-sized principal contractor was appointed for the refurbishment of a 1960s office building in the Midlands. The client provided a PCIP at tender stage containing architectural drawings, a ground floor plan showing service routes, and a brief description of the works. What it did not include: any asbestos survey, despite the building having been constructed in 1963. When the contractor began strip-out works in week three, their operatives exposed pipe lagging in the service void above a suspended ceiling. Work stopped immediately. An emergency refurbishment asbestos survey identified asbestos-containing materials throughout three floors. The resulting delays cost eight weeks and over £60,000 in additional costs. The contractor submitted a variation claim for the full amount. The client disputed liability. An adjudicator found in the contractor's favour: the client had a clear duty under CDM 2015 Regulation 4(4) to provide information that was reasonably obtainable — and a refurbishment asbestos survey for a pre-2000 building was both reasonably obtainable and a legal requirement.

The cost of a refurbishment asbestos survey for a building of this type: typically £500–£2,000. The cost of finding asbestos mid-works: over £60,000 in this case. The PCIP exists precisely to prevent this.

10. Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Pre-Construction Information Pack required on every project?▾

The duty applies to every construction project in Great Britain under CDM 2015 Regulation 4(4). There is no minimum size or duration threshold. However, what constitutes an adequate response is proportionate to the project's risks and complexity.

Does a domestic client need a PCIP?▾

CDM 2015 applies to domestic clients, but their specific duties automatically transfer to the contractor (single contractor) or principal contractor (multiple contractors). A formal written document is not legally required in all domestic scenarios, but the contractor must still have considered site-specific hazards before starting work.

What happens if I do not have one?▾

Failing to provide adequate pre-construction information is a breach of CDM 2015. The HSE can issue improvement notices, prohibition notices stopping work, or prosecute. Fines are unlimited in the Crown Court. Individuals face up to 2 years imprisonment.

Does the PCIP have to be a written document?▾

The regulations do not prescribe a written format. However, for any commercial project, a written document is the only practical way to demonstrate compliance, allow contractors to properly price work, and create an audit trail.

Who produces it — the client or the Principal Designer?▾

The client holds legal responsibility. The Principal Designer assists in compiling it, but this does not transfer the client's legal duty.

Can the PCIP be updated after it is first issued?▾

Yes — and it must be, when new information comes to light. It is a live document. Keep a distribution record showing who received which version and when.

What is the difference between the PCIP and the Construction Phase Plan?▾

The PCIP describes what is known about the site. The CPP describes how the contractor will manage safety on site using the PCIP as input. They are separate documents — the PCIP feeds into the CPP.

Does the PCIP need to cover every possible hazard?▾

No. The HSE is clear that the PCIP should focus on site-specific information that designers and contractors could not reasonably be expected to know without being told.

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