Tell the Building Safety Regulator about completed fibre optic cabling work
How to tell the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) you’ve installed fibre optic cabling in an existing higher-risk building in England.
Applies to England
Contractors and installers can use this form to tell the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) about completed fibre optic cabling work in an existing higher-risk building in England. A higher-risk building (HRB) has at least:
- 7 storeys or is at least 18 metres high
- 2 residential units or is a hospital or a care home
Check if you need building control approval
You must apply for building control approval if the work:
- does not meet the criteria for submitting a notification to BSR
- involves drilling through floors or ceilings, including in risers with fire-resisting compartmentation
- is part of other building work carried out at the same time as cabling work
Before you start
You must tell BSR about completed fibre optic cabling work if all the following criteria apply:
- the work is only for the purpose of fibre optic cabling completed under the dispensation for holes for fibre optic cabling in HRBs
- any holes created are 25mm or less in diameter
- it is only carried out on internal, external or riser walls
Before you carry out the work, you must have prior written approval from the relevant person. This could be the:
- accountable person for each part of the building where work is taking place
- building owner or person responsible for managing the building
All completed work must comply with building regulations, including:
- competent professionals planned, managed and carried out the work
- appropriate fire stopping, weatherproofing and soundproofing
- the use of compliant products and materials
If you carry out the work under the dispensation, your existing duties for the building’s golden thread and mandatory occurrence reporting still apply.
Submit one form for all qualifying fibre optic cabling work completed in the same building.
Information you’ll need to provide in your notification
You must use the online form to tell BSR as soon as possible after the work is completed.
If you’re the principal contractor
You need to provide:
- your organisation’s details
- a named contact’s details for your organisation
- the client’s organisation, if applicable
- the client’s details
- details about the building and the work
- the date the work was completed
If you’re a subcontractor or other person carrying out the work
You need to provide:
- your details
- the principal contractor’s details, including a named contact
- the client’s organisation, if applicable
- the client’s details
- details about the building and the work
- the date the work was completed
You should make a record of your answers on the ‘Check your answers before submitting your form’ page, as you will not receive a copy of them when you submit your notification.
When you submit the form, you will receive a reference number. Keep this for your records.
What happens next
BSR may use the information you provide to check if the building work needs further assessment.
If BSR determines that the work required building control approval instead of notification, it may investigate and take enforcement action where appropriate. Any costs will be charged under the BSR charging scheme.