What is a Safety Case Readiness Audit?
Our Safety Case Readiness Audit assesses whether the PAP can prove that the relevant BSR assessment criteria are being met through its Safety Case Report and supporting evidence. We establish the requirements applicable to the building, assess the available information and evidence against them, and identify any gaps.
The output is a RAG-rated assessment showing where each requirement has been Met, Partially Met or Not Met, together with the actions required to achieve or maintain readiness.
Under the Building Safety Act 2022, every occupied Higher-Risk Building (HRB) must have a Building Safety Case Report, which includes:
- Structural evidence, including whether a structural risk assessment exists and meets requirements
- Fire safety evidence covering external walls, compartmentation, fire doors, smoke control, detection and suppression
- Building safety risk assessments, and evidence of effective safety management
- The residents’ engagement strategy
- Golden thread material, and whether it can be produced on demand
- PAP/AP governance, competence and safety management arrangements
66% of BAC applications are being refused
According to the regulator, this is because applications focus on process compliance rather than effective management of safety by failing to demonstrate adequate arrangements to address the risks of fire spread and structural failure. It can be that the evidence supporting the safety case is missing. Or it exists, but the report reads as a collection of documents rather than an argument that risk is being managed.
After releasing simpler assessment criteria in September 2026, the BSR has confirmed that they are now aggressively clearing their backlog ahead of increasing Safety Case Report call-ins from January 2027.
Why Safety Case readiness must be proven. Not presumed.
-
66%of BAC applications refused in 2026
-
59.3%of the refusals lead to enforcement action
-
28 daysto submit once the regulator directs you
-
£23,000is the average cost of resubmission
How a Safety Case Readiness Audit protects you
Know where you stand
Identify the requirements that are not being met.
Meet the 28-day deadline
Assure readiness before your SCR is called in.
Get an action plan to follow
Take the next step to reach and prove readiness.
Avoid the £23,000 avg. resubmission cost
Make the first application or call-in count.
Prevent personal liability
Evidence that you have taken all reasonable steps with Building Safety Act specialists.
Protect transactions and portfolio value
Protect all current and future transactions and valuations of your assets.
Uphold brand reputation
Don’t let one failed BAC raise questions of the whole portfolio.
Download your free Safety Case Readiness guide
“This successful BAC outcome reflects the hard work of our team, and the trusted partnership we’ve built with Ark. Their knowledge and professionalism ensured a smooth process and an excellent result.”
Why work with Ark Workplace Risk?
- Over 30 years advising on risk, safety and compliance in the built environment
- A proven track record of securing BACs
- An in-house team of multi-disciplinary experts covering health and safety, fire, structural and regulatory requirements.
- A dedicated, fully COSH-qualified Customer Success team
- An industry-leading NPS of 61 vs average of 35
- A competent partner protecting over 200 UK clients and more than 9,000 buildings
Folkestone Harbour & Seafront Development Company
Developing and submitting comprehensive Safety Case Reports while introducing technology to evidence effective ongoing safety management.
Livingcity Secures First BAC
20th May 2025
Safety Case Readiness Audit frequently asked questions
A Safety Case Readiness Audit assesses whether the PAP can prove that the relevant BSR assessment criteria are being met through its Safety Case Report and supporting evidence. We establish the requirements applicable to the building, assess the available information and evidence against them, and identify any gaps.
The output is a RAG-rated assessment showing where each requirement has been Met, Partially Met or Not Met, together with the actions required to achieve or maintain readiness.
The Building Safety Regulator refused 66% of Building Assessment Certificate applications in 2026. The regulator has said applications fail because they focus on process compliance rather than effective management and control of safety, and because they do not demonstrate adequate arrangements to address the risks of fire spread and structural failure. In practice this means either the supporting evidence is missing, or it exists but is presented as a collection of documents rather than as an argument that risk is being managed.
Ark Workplace Risk reviews safety case material against what the regulator expects to see and reports where the gaps are.
If there is any doubt over the completeness of your Safety Case Report, then yes. Particularly if it was developed in house or cheaply. Holding a Safety Case Report is not the same as being ready, as proven by the 66% failure rate.
A Safety Case Readiness Audit from Ark Workplace Risk establishes what supporting material is present and what is missing, and whether the report makes an adequate argument for controlling safety. Furthermore, many of the gaps we find are discovered only when somebody tries to retrieve the evidence behind the report.
You have 28 days to submit your Building Assessment Certificate application once the Building Safety Regulator directs you. Failing to apply without reasonable excuse is an offence. That window is for submitting, not for preparing. A structural risk assessment needs a competent engineer, site access and often intrusive survey work. And closing out open fire risk assessment actions needs contractors and funding. Anything missing on the day the letter arrives is unlikely to be recoverable inside the window.
Book a free Safety Case Consultation
Speak to Ark’s Building Safety experts for a readiness audit of your current evidence, guidance on regulator expectations, and support that leads to a successful Safety Case submission.