CDM15 guidance notes PD/ vers 3 12/07/21
RISK MANAGEMENT
THE CONSTRUCTION (DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS) 2015
GUIDANCE NOTE: WHO IS THE PRINCIPAL DESIGNER
Introduction
This guidance note sets out to briefly summarise the role and duties of the Principal Designer
as laid down in the current The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
(CDM15). The guidance note is aimed to help those who have a role in property development
and property management e.g. clients, designers, contractors and facility managers, etc.
What is The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
(CDM15)?
The Construction (Design & Management) Regulations (CDM 2015) are the main set of
regulations for managing the health, safety and welfare
of construction projects.
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
(CDM 2015) came into force on 6 April 2015, replacing the old
Regulations CDM 2007 with the overriding aim of continuing to
improve health, safety and welfare within the construction
industry. In principle CDM15 is;


the law that applies to the whole construction process on all
construction projects (both commercial and domestic), from concept to completion;
and sets out what each duty-holder must or should do to comply with the law to ensure
projects are carried out in a way that secures health and safety.
Who is the Principal Designer?
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM15) looked to build on
the successes of the previous version (The Construction (Design and Management)
Regulations 2007) by introducing a new Duty Holder called
the Principal Designer. This position replaced, the former
role of the CDM Coordinator.
Organisations or individuals can undertake the role of
more than one duty holder, provided they have the skills,
knowledge and experience necessary to fulfil those roles
in a way that secures health and safety.
Under CDM 2015 a designer is defined as an organisation or individual that prepares or
modifies a design for any part of a construction project, including the design of temporary
works, or who arranges or instructs someone else to do it.
The Principal Designer (PD) must be a designer, who co-ordinates the health and safety
management and design mitigation of the pre-construction phase of the project. The
Principal Designer is appointed by the client for projects with more than one contractor.
Fidgens Risk Management 1 Westmoreland Terrace London SW1V 4AG + 44 (0) 20 7931 9925 / 07513715831
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CDM15 guidance notes PD/ vers 3 12/07/21
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The Principal Designer (PD) should have the organisational capability to carry out the role,
as well as the necessary design skills, knowledge and experience such as:


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.
The Principal Designer’s Duties
The Principal Designer (PD) is responsible for planning,
managing, monitoring and coordinating health and safety
in the pre-construction phase of a project.
In summary this includes:
 identifying, eliminating or controlling foreseeable risks;
 ensuring designers carry out their duties;
 Preparing and providing relevant information to other duty holders such as the PreConstruction Information Plan on behalf of the client;
 Assisting the Principal Contractor with the production of the Construction Phase Plan
 Submitting the F10 notification of project on behalf of the client;
 Preparing and providing information for the project Health and Safety File and/or
reviewing the combined Principal Contractors Operational and Maintenance Manual
and Health and Safety File
The Principal Designer (PD) also liaises with the Principal Contractor (PC) to help in the
planning, management and monitoring of the health and safety in the construction phase.
A Note on Designers and Their Duties
Under CDM 2015 a designer is defined as an organisation or individual that prepares or
modifies a design for a building, product or system relating to construction work. Including for
example the design of temporary works, or who arranges or instructs someone else to do it.
You could also be carrying out design even if you would normally not identify yourself as a
designer. An example would be if you are a client or contractor specifying a particular roof
system, deciding what size joists to use or selecting a type of window.
Designers can be architects, consulting engineers, interior designers, temporary work
engineers, chartered surveyors, technicians, specifiers, Principal Contractors and specialist
contractors.
The designer’s role when preparing or modifying designs is to eliminate, reduce or control
foreseeable risks that may happen during construction or maintenance and use of a building
after it’s been built.
The designer also provides information to other members of the project team to help them
fulfil their duties.
Fidgens Risk Management 1 Westmoreland Terrace London SW1V 4AG + 44 (0) 20 7931 9925 / 07513715831
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CDM15 guidance notes PD/ vers 3 12/07/21
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Guidance, Information, and Documents
You can download additional guidance and information relating to this guidance note which
are all in one place, click the document links below:
FRM CDM15 Suite of Guides
Fidgens Risk Management has produced a suite of guidance documents covering all aspects
of the Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015 please go to our company
website.
CDM15 UKGOV Legislation
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/51/contents/made
HSE guidance L153 Managing Health and Safety in Construction
https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/l153.pdf
Acknowledgements & Further Guidance
Notwithstanding, the authors own knowledge and research the author would also like to
acknowledge, the related subject matter produced in various free to access online
information produced by the following organisations, where further guidance on this subject
matter is also readily available;
 Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
 Designing Building’s Wiki – Institute of Civil Engineers
 Construction Industry Training Board – CITB
 Association of Project Safety - APS
Limitations
It is important to note that this guidance note is intended to outline good practice and provide
useful advice for the construction and other relevant industry professionals relating the
CDM15 Regulations only. It is not intended to be highly prescriptive, but is set out to enable
the professional to adapt the advice contained within the guidance note and use their own
professional judgement for the individual situations they will face. It is critical that before any
assessments are undertaken, employers and employees consider and assess the most up
to date government legislative guidance before taking further action.
Authors note
Every possible effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this free
guidance note is accurate. Guidance has been extrapolated from government guidance and
other professional bodies where practicable in order to provide advice specific to the
construction and property estate industries. The author (Fidgens Risk Management Limited)
cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions, however, caused.
No responsibility for loss or damage occasioned to any person acting, or refraining from action,
as a result of the material in this publication (free guidance note) can be accepted by the editor,
or author (Fidgens Risk Management).
Fidgens Risk Management 1 Westmoreland Terrace London SW1V 4AG + 44 (0) 20 7931 9925 / 07513715831
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CDM15 guidance notes PD/ vers 3 12/07/21
RISK MANAGEMENT
All rights reserved
Copyright © 2021
This guidance note is issued by the Fidgens Risk Management Limited. Following the
guidance is not compulsory and you are free to take other action. This free guidance note or
any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the
express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in an editorial
review.
FIDGENS RISK MANAGEMENT
1 Westmoreland Terrace
London SW1V 4AG
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7931 9925
E mail: arandall@fidgens.co.uk
Web: www.fidgens-rm.co.uk
:
Fidgens Risk Management 1 Westmoreland Terrace London SW1V 4AG + 44 (0) 20 7931 9925 / 07513715831
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