A Guide to the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015)
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, commonly referred to as CDM 2015, set out the legal duties for managing health, safety, and welfare on construction projects in the UK.
These regulations apply to everyone involved in construction work, from clients and designers to contractors and workers.
This guide provides a practical overview of the key roles, responsibilities, and requirements under CDM 2015 to support compliance across all project stages.
What is CDM 2015?
CDM 2015 is the primary set of regulations governing construction work in the UK. Its aim is to improve health, safety, and welfare throughout the entire lifecycle of a construction project, including the pre-construction phase, during construction works, and, in certain aspects, post-completion.
All relevant parties involved in a construction project, known as duty holders, are assigned specific legal responsibilities to ensure that work is carried out safely and without risk to health.
When Does CDM 2015 Apply?
CDM 2015 applies to all construction projects, regardless of their size or duration. This includes new builds, demolition, refurbishments, extensions, conversions, repairs, and ongoing maintenance.
The regulations apply to both domestic and commercial projects, though the duties and expectations placed on those involved vary proportionally according to the level of project risk.
Roles and Responsibilities Under CDM 2015
CDM 2015 defines a series of duty holder roles, each with specific legal responsibilities. All duty holders must communicate and cooperate with one another throughout the project lifecycle.
Clients: Are organisations or individuals for who the construction project is being carried out for.
Domestic Clients: are people who have construction work carried out on their own home, or the home of a family member that is not done as part of a business, whether for profit or not.
Designer: Are those, who as part of a business, prepare or modify designs for a building, product or system relating to construction work
Principle Designer: Are designers appointed by the client in projects involving more than one contractor. They can be an organisation or an individual with sufficient knowledge, experience and ability to carry out the role.
Principal Contractor: are contractors appointed by the client to coordinate the construction phase of a project where it involves more than one contractor.
Contractor: are those who do the actual construction work and can be either an individual or a company.
Worker: Are the people who work for or under the control of contractors on a construction site
(Source: HSE 2015 – L153)
What is an F10 Notification of a Construction Project?
Certain construction projects require specific details to be submitted to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) before work begins. This submission is known as an F10 Notification.
The F10 provides information such as the scope and location of the project, the appointed duty holders, and its expected duration.
Failure to submit accurate information in a timely manner and ensure that the information is updated as required breaches CDM regulations and increase likelihood for penalty fees.
There are, however, some scenarios in which the submission of an F10 is not required.
What is Pre-Construction Information?
Pre-construction information includes project-specific health and safety details that must be considered before work begins. This information is critical for designers and contractors tendering for, or already appointed to, the project.
Principal Designers and Principal Contractors use this information to plan, manage, and monitor health and safety effectively across the site.
The purpose is to identify and eliminate foreseeable health and safety risks at the earliest stage possible, ensuring risks are understood and controlled before any work starts.
Construction Phase Plan and Pre-Construction Information
What is a Construction Phase Plan?
A Construction Phase Plan is a document required by law under CDM 2015. It sets out the health and safety arrangements for the project, including site rules and control measures for high-risk activities as outlined in CDM 2015 Schedule 3.
It is a live document, subject to review and revision as the project progresses. The plan must reflect current arrangements for managing project-specific health and safety risks. It is required that the plan be communicated to all involved parties.
What is a Health and Safety File?
For projects involving more than one contractor, CDM 2015 requires the creation of a Health and Safety File. This file is intended for use after the project is completed and contains key health and safety information relevant to future works, such as maintenance, cleaning, refurbishment, or demolition.
The HSE sets out guidance on what information should be included during the development of the file.
Competence and Skills Requirements Under CDM 2015
It is a legal requirement under CDM 2015 that all duty holders possess the necessary level of information, instruction, training, and supervision to carry out their roles competently.
