New unique Principal Designer Dutyholder Registration ─ PAS 8671:2022

The PAS 8670 Framework was sponsored by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). Its development was facilitated by BSI Standards Limited and it was published under licence from The British Standards Institution. It came into effect on 31 July 2022

PAS 8670 Framework sets the thresholds of competence that individuals operating as Principal Designers appointed as Duty Holders under the Building Safety Act 2022 are expected to meet.

The Institute of Construction Management has created  domain-specific competence frameworks for the Construction Sector ─ 2023++ ─  it must be understood the PAS 8670 is not a sector specific framework itself but guides organizations in developing domain-specific competence frameworks to agree the learning pathways, validation methods (including the required standards of evidence to support validation), and terms and conditions of certification and revalidation

For the purposes of demonstrating competence to work as Principal Designers, individual designers are now able to obtain accredited independent assessment, expert opinion, and certification that is aligned to the PAS to verify their competence has been independently third-party audited in a secure, reliable, consistent ISO9001 quality managed proof of appropriate Knowledge, Skills, Expertise, Capability, Behaviors, Attitude upon which an appointing commissioning client may use to consider such appointment.

Through 2024 the Institute of Construction Management developed its unique one-stop-shop approach to all the Statutory Dutyholder roles under the Building Safety Act 2022 ─ the ICM Competence Register Trilogy™ ─ uniquely sharing SKEB criteria across the professions ... and, on the industry acclaimed tried and tested robustly Benchmax digital platform ... 

When the ICSG [Industry Competence Steering Group] completes its work on the scope of PAS 8673:2022 the Institute of Construction management will start to register and accredit Responsible Persons

New unique Fire Door Competence Registration BS 8674:2025

Across the sector, there are increasing concerns about the quality and consistency of some fire door inspection, installation, and remediation practices. Many issues appear to stem from training that may not fully align with the comprehensive skill and knowledge requirements set out in national frameworks for fire safety competence.

Some promotional materials within the marketplace present short courses as complete solutions or routes to compliance. While such courses can play a useful role in developing awareness, their descriptions should accurately reflect the depth and scope of learning outcomes. Clarity in advertising and certification claims is essential to maintain professional integrity and avoid misunderstandings about qualification status or competency levels.

The industry increasingly values transparency, evidence-based training, and honest communication about course objectives and limitations. Providers that present realistic expectations tend to build stronger trust with professionals and contribute positively to safety culture across the built environment.

It remains vital for those in fire safety education and assessment to ensure that their materials are factual, up to date, and consistent with the standards and frameworks recognized under national competence schemes. Doing so helps prevent misinterpretation and supports the overarching goal we all share—protecting life safety through credible and competent practice.

Meaningful progress in fire safety training will continue to come from responsible leadership, accurate representation, and a shared commitment to raising the bar for competence across the industry.