For construction site managers, every day is a juggling act. You’re managing subcontractors, materials, health and safety, site logistics and programme deadlines. But among all the pressures, there’s one responsibility that cannot be overlooked – ensuring the build remains compliant with building regulations, whether as the Principal Contractor (Building Regulations) or a contractor under the ‘Building Safety Regulations’.

Building compliance isn’t just the domain of architects or designers. Once work starts on site, the responsibility to make sure the project follows the ‘approved’ plans and meets legal standards falls squarely on your shoulders. And with evolving legislation like the Building Safety Act, the stakes have never been higher.

Why Building Compliance Matters on Site

Building regulations exist to protect the health, safety, and wellbeing of building users, and ensure energy-efficient, accessible spaces. They apply to everything from structural integrity and fire safety to ventilation and thermal performance.

Non-compliance can lead to far more than just delays. You could face:

• Project sign-off being withheld by the Duty Holders or Building Control Approver
• Legal enforcement and stop notices
• Costly remedial work
• Damage to client relationships and your professional reputation

The construction phase is where compliance is tested in the real world. As site manager, you are the link between the ‘approved’ drawings and the final build. Every decision made on site, from sequencing to material choices, can impact regulatory sign-off.

What Building Regulations Actually Cover

Understanding the scope of the Building Regulations helps you monitor the right things on site. The regulations are broken down into Approved Documents, covering topics such as:

• Part A: Structural stability
• Part B: Fire safety
• Part C: Site preparation and moisture
• Part E: Sound insulation
• Part F: Ventilation
• Part L:  Energy efficiency
• Part M: Access and usability
• Part P: Electrical safety (in dwellings)

Each stage of construction, from foundations and superstructure to insulation, services and finishes, has regulatory implications. Ensuring trades follow the right detail at the right time is essential to avoid compliance failures.

For higher-risk buildings, new Gateway processes now require even tighter control, with multiple compliance stages and dutyholder responsibilities formally enforced under the Building Safety Act.

The Site Manager’s Responsibilities for Compliance

As a site manager, your compliance responsibilities include:

Following the ‘approved’ plans: Ensuring that construction matches the design documents signed off by building control.

Arranging inspections: Booking site inspections with your building control approver at the correct build stages.

Managing variations: Ensuring any changes to design or materials are reviewed and approved before implementation.

Maintaining records: Keeping evidence such as photographic records, installation certificates, and updated drawings.

Coordinating trades: Making sure all subcontractors understand their role in delivering compliant work.

Salus Insight: Site managers are not just operational leads, they are also compliance custodians. You play a central role in maintaining the “golden thread” of information throughout the build.

How to Work Effectively with a Building Control Approver

Building control approvers are here to help your project succeed, not to catch you out. Here’s how to get the most from your BCA relationship:

Schedule inspections in advance: Identify key inspection stages during pre-start meetings and include them in your programme.

Be inspection-ready: Ensure the relevant work is accessible, clean, and visible for inspection, especially before covering up fire-stopping or insulation.

Engage with your Team: All changes and queries need to be checked with your Principal Designer (Building Regulations). If you’re unsure about a detail or proposed detail or material change, ask your PD(BR) before proceeding with any changes and ensure you engage with your BCA so they can review the proposals before you have built it!

Use digital records: Photograph & Geotag hidden elements (e.g. below-ground drainage, insulation in cavities) and store them securely. Salus accepts photographic evidence where appropriate.

Managing Design and Material Changes on Site

Changes on site are inevitable, whether driven by supply chain issues, value engineering or practical buildability. But any variation that deviates from the approved plans must be flagged and reviewed with the Principal Designer (Building Regulations) and Principal Contractor (Building Regulations) before submitting revised information to the building control Approver.

Common risk areas include:

• Substituting fire-resistant plasterboard with a different brand
• Adjusting floor build-ups due to tolerance issues
• Changing window specifications
• Omitting details like cavity barriers or access signage

If changes aren’t communicated to your building control approver, through the Principal Designer (Building Regulations) you risk failed inspections or enforced rework.

Case Example: On one project, a contractor swapped out the specified cavity barrier for a non-tested alternative due to delivery delays. The issue only came to light during a fire safety inspection, requiring invasive remedial works and delaying completion.

Avoiding the Most Common Compliance Pitfalls

Site managers are under pressure, but the following oversights are avoidable with the right systems in place:

Missed inspection stages

Leading to inaccessible work being covered before approval.

Poor coordination between trades

Causing regulatory details (e.g. fire stopping, acoustic separation) to be compromised.

Non-evidenced work

No photographs or certificates for key components like insulation, fire collars or ventilation.

Unapproved design tweaks

Especially on structural or fire-related elements.

Best Practice: Create a site compliance checklist aligned with your project’s key stages. Make it a core part of daily and weekly briefings.

The Building Safety Act: What It Means for Site Teams

The Building Safety Act 2022 introduces formal accountability for everyone involved in construction, including site managers.

Under the Act:

• Contractors and site managers are now classified as dutyholders
• You must be able to demonstrate your competence and maintain appropriate compliance documentation
• For higher-risk buildings (HRBs), the regulator must approve construction progress at defined Gateways
• Poor documentation or unauthorised changes can lead to criminal liability

Salus can support you in understanding and meeting your obligations under the Act. We’re already working with contractors across the UK to help them adapt.

How Salus Supports Site Managers On The Ground

At Salus, we understand the pressures faced on construction sites. Our team is built around practical, responsive support for site managers and contractors. We can offer:

• Clear inspection schedules that align with your programme
• Rapid site support and feedback on issues as they arise
• Remote evidence reviews where appropriate to avoid delays
• Guidance on variations and change management
• Expertise in HRBs and Gateway processes

We’re not just here to inspect,  we’re here to help you build with confidence.

Make Compliance a Core Part of Site Management

As a construction site manager, you have the power to ensure that the built work meets both the client’s expectations and the letter of the law. By working proactively with your building control approver, managing changes properly, and maintaining good records, you can protect your project, your team, and your reputation.

Need a compliance partner who understands life on site?

Salus works with site teams across the country to deliver compliant, successful builds on time and without stress. Get in touch today or explore our site inspection services.