Preparing safety case reports for Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs) under the Building Safety Act (BSA)

Preparing safety case reports for Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs) under the Building Safety Act supports structural engineers in fulfilling their responsibilities within the building safety regime, providing clear, proportionate guidance for identifying hazards, assessing risks and contributing robust structural information to safety case reports.  

The publication explains the legislative framework, clarifies the role of structural engineers within the building safety regime and sets out a consistent approach to assessing structural and structural/fire-related risks. It outlines how to develop a reliable understanding of a building’s condition, determine reasonable steps and present evidence in addressing structural risks a transparent, auditable format.  

IStructE Technical Director, Patrick Hayes said: “This guide is an essential tool for those preparing the structural aspects of safety case reports. It explains what a safety case is and takes the reader through the process of preparing a report and how to address the issues that arise. It will quickly become a reference document alongside our HRB Compendium for those working on the safety of existing buildings."

Written for those supporting safety cases for both existing and new build HRBs, the guide covers condition assessment, investigations, structural behaviour, fire-related structural performance, ongoing monitoring and change control. It provides a structured methodology that enables engineers to deliver clear, defensible inputs to the safety case and safety case report.  

This is a comprehensive, practical guide that supports engineers in preparing or reviewing the structural elements of safety cases, offering clear methodologies and well evidenced good practice.  

Specifically, this publication: 

• Defines ‘safety case’ and ‘safety case report’ and explains the legal context 

• Details the process of preparing and presenting a structural safety case report 

• Sets out a recommended process for carrying out structural assessments 

• Provides methodologies for risk assessment 

• Outlines how to gather and structure supporting data, including presenting ‘claims, argument and evidence’ 

• Provides advice on how to deal with structural issues 

• Provides advice on quality control and legal considerations.  

This guidance applies to all HRBs, new build and existing and aims to ensure that structural safety case reports are robust, well-reasoned and auditable, enabling consistent and robust submissions under the BSA.

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