Principal Designer

Proper risk identification and appropriate project safety management can only ever be effectively done by those who have the necessary experience. Knapp Hicks possess such experience and are always happy to assist clients in taking on the role of the ‘Principal Designer’ when required.

After extensive industry consultation, the new CDM 2015 regulations that came into effect in April 2015, includes the replacement of a CDM Co-ordinator with the role of Principal Designer.

The duties, abilities and qualifications of a ‘Principal Designer’ are clearly laid out in the new Regulations, and are ideally suited to the vast experience already possessed by Knapp Hicks.

• A Principal Designer is the designer (see paragraphs 72-74) with control over the pre-construction phase of the project. This is the very earliest stage of a project from concept design through to planning the delivery of the construction work. The principal designer must be appointed in writing by the client to carry out their duties.
• The Principal Designer is an organisation (or on a smaller project they can be an individual) that has:
  • A technical knowledge of the construction industry relevant to the project.
  • The understanding and skills to manage and co-ordinate the pre-construction phase, including any design work carried out after construction begins.

Where the Principal Designer is an organisation they should have the necessary capability to carry out the role as well as the necessary skills, knowledge and experience that individual designers must have.