Construction · CDM 2015
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
Every construction project on pre-2000 stock triggers both CDM 2015 and CAR 2012. The R&D Survey is the bridge between them — CDM requires it in the pre-construction information; CAR 2012 requires it before work starts.
UK Parliament (Statutory Instrument 2015/51) · In force from 6 April 2015 · Status: In force
Scope
What it covers.
Client duties on any construction project, notifiable projects, principal designer and principal contractor roles, pre-construction information, construction phase plan, health and safety file, and the specific asbestos overlaps at each stage.
Who it applies to
- Every client commissioning construction work in Great Britain
- Principal designers (typically the lead architect or engineer)
- Principal contractors on notifiable projects
- Every contractor on every construction project
Key provisions
The duties, provision by provision.
Requires the client to make suitable arrangements for managing the project
Includes providing pre-construction information — of which the asbestos survey is a critical component on any pre-2000 project.
Prescribes duties for principal designer and principal contractor
The principal designer must eliminate or reduce risks by design, which on pre-2000 stock means designing around identified ACMs where possible.
Requires a written construction phase plan before construction starts
The plan must cover asbestos management including the survey findings, the plan of work under CAR 2012 Reg 7, and the notification status.
Requires a health and safety file at handover
The file must include the asbestos register and management plan for the completed works — transferring to the owner for future refurbishment or demolition.
In practice
How we apply it.
- We deliver Refurbishment & Demolition Surveys to a schedule that matches the RIBA design stages — early enough to inform Stage 4 detail design.
- For notifiable projects we can be appointed as CDM asbestos advisor, sitting in design team meetings and reviewing risk registers.
- Every R&D Survey report includes a section written specifically for the health and safety file at handover.
FAQs
Common follow-up questions.
When does the R&D Survey need to be commissioned?
As early as RIBA Stage 2 concept design if possible — findings drive detail design in Stages 3-4. Waiting until Stage 5 (construction) is a common but expensive mistake as it forces redesign or emergency variation.
Who pays for the asbestos survey — client or contractor?
The client, as part of the pre-construction information duty under CDM Reg 4. Passing this cost to the contractor at tender is a false economy — the contractor prices in risk contingency higher than the survey cost.
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