Building Safety Regulator Transition and Visual Management

Building Safety Regulator Transition and the Role of Visual Management

The Building Safety Regulator transition marks an important stage in the evolution of the UK’s building safety framework. From January 2026, responsibility for the Building Safety Regulator will sit within a new independent arm’s-length body under the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

As the Building Safety Regulator transition takes effect, building owners, accountable persons and facilities teams are reviewing how building safety responsibilities are managed, communicated and demonstrated in practice.

Understanding the Building Safety Regulator Transition

The Building Safety Regulator was established to oversee safety standards in higher-risk buildings and to strengthen accountability across the built environment. The current transition formalises its long-term regulatory position and reinforces expectations around governance, oversight and information management.

While the core legal duties remain unchanged, the Building Safety Regulator transition places renewed emphasis on how safety-related information is maintained, kept up to date and made accessible to those with responsibility for managing buildings.

Building Safety Regulator Transition: Implications for Dutyholders

For Accountable Persons, Principal Accountable Persons and property managers, the regulatory framework continues to focus on clear responsibility and demonstrable oversight.

In practice, this means organisations are increasingly paying attention to how building safety information is:

• communicated within buildings

• shared with contractors and dutyholders

• reviewed and updated over time

• made visible during inspections, audits or internal reviews

As regulatory oversight matures, there is growing focus on how compliance is managed day to day, not just how it is documented.

The Role of Visual Management in Building Safety

Visual management does not replace statutory records, digital systems or formal submissions. However, in the context of the Building Safety Regulator transition, many organisations are exploring visual management as a way to support clarity, consistency and routine oversight.

Common applications include:

• Safety communication boards for site-specific information

• Compliance tracking boards showing review cycles and actions

• Building Assessment Certificate (BAC) status boards

• Contractor management boards clarifying roles and access

• Emergency evacuation plan displays

Used appropriately, these tools help ensure that key information is visible, current and understood by those responsible for managing the building.

Why Visibility Matters in Building Safety Management

Building safety relies on shared understanding. When responsibilities, actions and statuses are clearly visible, organisations are better able to:

maintain consistency across sites

support contractor coordination

reduce reliance on informal knowledge

demonstrate structured oversight

As the Building Safety Regulator transition continues to embed, visibility and routine review are becoming increasingly important elements of effective building safety management.

What the Building Safety Regulator Transition Means Going Forward

The transition of the Building Safety Regulator reflects a broader shift toward long-term, structured oversight of building safety. For dutyholders, the focus remains on maintaining clear processes, accurate information and effective communication.

Within this environment, visual management is increasingly considered as part of wider systems that support clarity, accountability and consistency — alongside formal compliance and professional expertise.