Northern Ireland Statutory Rule
2016
Northern Ireland
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
41 compliance obligations, 1 practical guide
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Contractor 20
- Client 8
- Director or Officer 6
- Any Person 6
- Designer 1
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Supporting — topic alignment
1 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Contractors also bound by 178 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- The National Health Service (Personal Medical Services Agreements) Regulations 2015 2015 137 duties
- The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations 2015 2015 134 duties
- Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 2015 114 duties
- The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Wales) Regulations 2023 2023 93 duties
- The Health and Personal Social Services (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004 2004 87 duties
Clients also bound by 65 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 2015 32 duties
- The Building (Higher-Risk Buildings Procedures) (Wales) Regulations 2025 2025 19 duties
- Building (Higher-Risk Buildings Procedures) (England) Regulations 2023 2023 17 duties
- Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 2012 14 duties
- Building Regulations 2010 2010 12 duties
Directors and Officers also bound by 425 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 161 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 108 duties
- Insolvency Act 1986 1986 72 duties
- The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 2008 55 duties
- The Housing Administration (England and Wales) Rules 2018 2018 26 duties
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
Designers also bound by 11 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 2015 19 duties
- Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 2012 2 duties
- Building (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2004 2004 1 duty
- Council Directive 92/57/EEC of 24 June 1992 1992 1 duty
- Building Regulations 2010 2010 1 duty
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part 1 — INTRODUCTION
Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Citation and commencement
Interpretation
Application within the territorial sea or a designated area
Part 2 — CLIENT DUTIES
Client duties in relation to managing projects
- Make suitable arrangements to manage construction projects safely Client
Appointment of the principal designer and the principal contractor
- Appoint a principal designer and principal contractor in writing Client
Notification
- Notify HSENI of notifiable construction projects before work starts Client
Application to domestic clients
- Take on domestic client's CDM duties when working on their home Director or Officer
Part 3 — HEALTH AND SAFETY DUTIES AND ROLES
General duties
- Have the right skills for your role and cooperate on site safety Director or Officer
Duties of designers
- Design and manage out health and safety risks in your construction designs Designer
Designs prepared or modified outside Northern Ireland
- Ensure overseas designs meet designer duties under CDM (NI) Client
Duties of a principal designer in relation to health and safety at the pre-construction phase
- Plan, manage and coordinate health and safety at pre-construction phase Director or Officer
Construction phase plan and health and safety file
- Prepare and maintain a construction phase plan throughout the project Director or Officer
Duties of a principal contractor in relation to health and safety at the construction phase
- Plan, manage and monitor health and safety during construction Director or Officer
Principal contractor's duties to consult and engage with workers
- Consult and engage workers on health and safety during construction Director or Officer
Duties of contractors
- Plan, manage and monitor construction work safely as a contractor Contractor
Part 4 — GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL CONSTRUCTION SITES
Application of Part 4
- Comply with Part 4 site safety rules on construction sites Contractor
Safe places of construction work
- Keep construction sites and access routes safe for workers Contractor
Good order and site security
- Keep construction sites in good order, clean, and secure Contractor
Stability of structures
- Ensure structural stability during construction work Contractor
Demolition or dismantling
- Plan and record demolition or dismantling arrangements in writing Contractor
Excavations
- Ensure excavation safety and have competent inspections before work Contractor
Cofferdams and caissons
- Ensure cofferdams and caissons are safe, maintained and inspected before use Contractor
Reports of inspections
- Keep inspection reports for excavations and cofferdams on site and available to HSENI Any Person
Energy distribution installations
- Manage risks from energy distribution, overhead cables and underground services Contractor
Prevention of drowning
- Prevent drowning risks during construction work near water Any Person
Traffic routes
- Organise construction site traffic routes for pedestrian and vehicle safety Contractor
Vehicles
- Manage vehicle safety on construction sites Any Person
Prevention of risk from fire, flooding or asphyxiation
- Prevent risks from fire, flooding or asphyxiation during construction Contractor
Emergency procedures
- Make and test emergency procedures on construction sites Any Person
Emergency routes and exits
- Provide and maintain safe emergency routes and exits on construction sites Contractor
Fire detection and fire-fighting
- Provide and maintain fire detection and fire-fighting equipment on site Any Person
Fresh air
- Ensure sufficient fresh or purified air on construction sites Contractor
Temperature and weather protection
- Maintain reasonable temperatures and protect from adverse weather Contractor
Lighting
- Provide suitable and sufficient lighting on construction sites Contractor
Part 5 — GENERAL
Browse 4 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Civil Liability
Enforcement in respect of fire
Transitional and saving provisions
Revocations and consequential amendments
Schedules
A declaration signed by or on behalf of the client...
- Sign a declaration confirming awareness of client duties Client
Sanitary conveniences
- Provide and maintain adequate toilet facilities on construction sites Contractor
Drinking water
- Provide adequate drinking water, signage and cups on construction sites Contractor
Changing rooms and lockers
- Provide suitable changing rooms and lockers on construction sites Contractor
Facilities for rest
- Provide suitable rest rooms and rest areas for workers Contractor
Projects with no existing CDM co-ordinator or principal contractor
- Appoint principal contractor and ensure construction phase plan is prepared Client
Projects with an existing CDM co-ordinator
- Appoint a principal designer in writing for projects with an existing CDM co-ordinator Client
Duties of CDM co-ordinator during transitional period
- Coordinate health and safety during transitional construction projects as CDM co-ordinator Any Person
Duties disapplied pending appointment of principal designer
- If you don't appoint a principal designer, you must do the job yourself Client
Projects with only one contractor
- Draw up a construction phase plan for single-contractor projects (transitional) Contractor
Browse 36 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Interpretation
Offshore installations
Wells
Pipelines
Mines
Gas Importation and Storage
Production of Energy from Water or Wind
Underground Coal Gasification
Other activities
The date of forwarding the notice.
The planned duration of the construction phase.
The estimated maximum number of people at work on the...
The planned number of contractors on the construction site.
The name and address of any contractor already appointed.
The name and address of any designer already appointed.
The address of the construction site or precise description of...
The name of the district council where the construction site...
A brief description of the project and the construction work...
The following contact details of the client: name, address, telephone...
The following contact details of the principal designer: name, address,...
The following contact details of the principal contractor: name, address,...
The date planned for the start of the construction phase....
The time allocated by the client under regulation 4(1) for...
Washing facilities
Work which puts workers at risk of burial under earthfalls,...
Work which puts workers at risk from chemical or biological...
Work with ionising radiation requiring the designation of controlled or...
Work near high voltage power lines.
Work exposing workers to the risk of drowning.
Work on wells, underground earthworks and tunnels.
Work carried out by divers having a system of air...
Work carried out by workers in caissons with a compressed...
Work involving the assembly or dismantling of heavy prefabricated components....
In this Schedule— “CDM co-ordinator” means a person appointed under...
These Regulations apply to a relevant project with the modifications...
Savings
Other sections — not classified into a Part
These sections sit outside the numbered Parts — usually provisions added or moved by later amendments.
Browse 3 other sections
Citation and commencement
Definition of “relevant year”
Revocation
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- HSENI - Notification of new construction project (NI10) (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- HSENI - CDM (NI) 2016 guidance (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- HSENI - Construction safety (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- HSENI - Workplace health, safety and welfare (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland
Promotes and enforces health and safety at work standards in Northern Ireland. NI equivalent of HSE with similar enforcement powers under local …
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Browse legislation
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Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.