The PAS 8671, PAS 8672 and Flex 8670 are part of a set of building standards that ensure any building site workers have the required skills, knowledge and experience to stay safe and keep others safe during construction and beyond.
They act as an important set of guidelines across construction companies to help them adhere to the Building Safety Act – a UK law aimed to improve safety standards and accountability for construction companies in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
Why is BSI Flex 8670 Important?
BSI Flex 8670 sets out core competence principles before any construction projects begin. It is a comprehensive code of practice that includes guidelines for safe communication, risk management, building regulations and processes, ethics, fire safety, building systems and leading and management safety. A foundational document for any construction product, it outlines the core criteria that should always be included in any building environment.
It emphasises the necessary competencies needed for any building project, including early hazard identification, proactive risk assessment and thorough report preparation. Flex 8670 also highlights the need for non-technical skills like cooperation, teamwork and strong communication.
When it comes to behavioural competence, it identifies key behaviours that support a safe construction culture including leadership, accountability, ethical conduct and a duty of care towards future occupants.
It also gives organisations specific frameworks to assess the competence of their workers and how to directly address any competence gaps found.
BSI Flex 8670 provides an overarching framework for competence on a construction project. It is the basis for the PAS standards (including PAS 8671 and PAS 8672) which lay out principles for the specific roles involved in the construction sector.
What is PAS 8671?
Safety is prioritised from the offset with Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 8671 – ensuring compliance from the design phase. It is a standard which lays out the competence requirements that Principal Designers must meet, especially when working on higher-risk buildings. PAS 8671 guides the design work and ensures compliance with building regulations within the initial design.
The goal of PAS 8671 is to improve building safety from a design perspective. It ensures that designers are sufficiently competent and committed to the safe design of a building.
It lays out key areas of competence including an ability to ensure compliance and safety in the design, awareness of technical standards and best practices for safe building design, ethical conduct and a strong understanding of building regulations.
For higher-risk buildings, it outlines additional requirements for Principal Designers to match the increased complexity and safety considerations for these types of structures.
Who is PAS 8672 For?
PAS 8672 is aimed at Principal Contractors. The standard outlines competence requirements for Principal Contractors on a construction project. It guides them to confirm alignment with the design and ensure that building regulations are being followed during the construction phase.
To safely oversee a construction project, Principal Contractors require specific skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours – especially in high-risk buildings. These are comprehensively outlined in PAS 8672. As well as clarifying the duties and responsibilities of Principal Contractors, it specifies the required technical skills, understanding of building regulations and practical experience needed to suitably fulfill their duties.
Like PAS 8671, PAS 8672 is designed to promote a culture of safety and ensure ethical behaviour – this time for Principal Contractors on construction projects.
Why are These Standards Important in the Construction Industry?
These building standards work together to offer a comprehensive framework for businesses, regulators and accrediting bodies to ensure compliance when it comes to construction projects. By setting clear competencies for each stage of the project, it helps to ensure competence for all parties, establish compliance with building safety regulations, improve building safety and promote an ethical approach.
The standards were developed collaboratively to reflect the different aspects of a building project and ensure ethics and safety at all stages. Following these guidelines across the sector can help to manage risks and ensure consistent quality across building and construction projects.
Managing Compliance Through Construction Software
But keeping compliant isn’t easy, which is why construction software is stepping in to help.
By using construction software like Complete Competence, construction companies can stay ahead of the curve and equip their company with the tools needed for future legislative change. This software ensures compliance with PAS 8671/8672 to demonstrate skills, knowledge, behavioural competence and experience.
Now or Never: Staying Ahead in Construction
If construction businesses follow these guidelines for each project, the aim is that they become an industry standard for quality and safety. As they stand, they are currently just guidelines rather than a legal framework; however, the hope is that they lead to increased trust in construction outcomes and become an obligatory part of future construction projects.
The construction sector is becoming increasingly compliance-focused and construction companies should follow suit before they’re left behind.