Building a Safer Future (BSF) was established to create a positive culture and behaviour change in building safety. They are focused on practical tools that support the construction industry to develop the necessary leadership and culture to put people’s safety first in how we design, build, and maintain the built environment. 

The BSF was created after the unfortunate events of The Grenfell Tower Tragedy on 14th June 2017. Dame Judith Hackitt completed a Building a Safer Future Review in 2017 and published the final report on 17th May 2018, and the BSF Charter is a proactive response to this. 

The BSF Charter was created by a group of local authorities, contractors and housing association noticing that something needed to be done with regards to the built environment. The group then received the support of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG as it was at the time). This was the first step into making sure they were changing the way we approach building safety across the UK.  In 2020 The Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) was appointed to take on responsibility for the management of the Charter, which lead to a not-for-profit independent organisation (Building a Safer Future Ltd) being developed with an independent governance structure. 

The Charter is made up of Five Commitments 

• Commitment One – Collaborate to spearhead culture change and be the voice of building safety across our sector.
• Commitment Two – Be transparent in the interests of safety, sharing key information with residents, clients, contractors and statutory bodies in a useful and accessible manner in the design, construction and occupation phases of the process.
• Commitment Three – Make safety a key factor of choice in who we work with, ensuring that building safety is placed at the centre of selection decisions without compromising quality or value for money.
• Commitment Four – Ensure that the voices and safety of residents, visitors and employees are central in our decision-making process.
• Commitment Five – Set out and communicate clear responsibilities within our organisation and with our partners, ensuring everyone with a stake in the building during design, construction and occupation understands their role and has the time and resources they need to achieve and maintain building safety.

Originally the BSF was originally focusing on High-Rise Residential Buildings however, the BSF and the Charter have now extended the scope to cover buildings of all heights. 

With more than 20 years of combined experience, FCS was born out of a realisation that the fire safety and engineering world would be forever changed by the Hackitt Report from Dame Judith Hackitt. We are committed to bring leading edge practices, employing the latest knowledge and systems into everything that we do and are proud Signatory Members of the BSF. 

If you haven’t signed up and committed to the Charter, why don’t you sign up today? By getting involved and signing the Charter, organisations are making a practical first step towards putting building safety above all other considerations. You can find more information here www.buildingasaferfuture.org.uk