Safety Case Preparation Checklist

A building safety case checklist is a structured tool that helps building managers prepare their Safety Case Report as required under section 85 of the Building Safety Act 2022. It covers all the key areas the Building Safety Regulator will assess: risk identification, safety measures, fire risk assessments, mandatory occurrence reporting, resident engagement, golden thread information management, and competency evidence. Using a checklist ensures no critical requirement is missed before a BSR assessment.

A Safety Case Report must describe the building and its key safety features, document all identified building safety risks (fire and structural), set out the measures taken to manage each risk, and include evidence that those measures are effective. It should also reference the fire risk assessment, structural surveys, maintenance records, and the Residents Engagement Strategy. The report must be kept up to date and reviewed at least annually or after any significant change.

Preparation involves ensuring your Safety Case Report is complete and current, your golden thread information is digitally accessible, all mandatory occurrence reports are filed, your Residents Engagement Strategy is distributed to residents, and all Accountable Person registrations are up to date. The BSR will assess whether you are managing building safety risks effectively. Having organised, auditable records significantly improves your chances of a successful assessment.

The Building Safety Regulator has not prescribed a specific template for the Safety Case Report. However, the Act requires it to contain defined elements: building description, identified risks, safety measures, and evidence of effectiveness. This checklist covers all required elements in a structured format. Purpose-built compliance software like Brocade can help you maintain the underlying data and generate a report that meets BSR expectations.

The Safety Case Report must be reviewed and updated at least annually under section 85(6) of the Building Safety Act 2022. It should also be reviewed after any significant change to the building (refurbishment, changes to fire safety systems, structural modifications), after a safety occurrence, or when the Building Safety Regulator requests an update. Keeping the report current is essential -- an outdated report is a compliance failure.