Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM) FAQs

Answers to your questions about construction regulations (CDM) and health and safety.

When is a construction project notifiable?

A construction project is notifiable to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) if the construction work is expected to last longer than 30 working days and have more than 20 workers working at the same time at any point on the project. The project is also notifiable if the duration of the project is expected to exceed 500 person days of work.

If it is notifiable, the client must submit an F10 form to the HSE prior to the construction phase.

What is a domestic client?

A domestic client is any person who has construction work carried out in their home or family members home, and is not part of a business.

Can you carry out the role of more than one duty holder on a CDM project?

Yes – you can carry out the role of one or more duty holder on a CDM project. To do this you must have to have the skills, training, knowledge or experience to carry out all of the different roles. Most importantly the duty holders must have adequate resources in the form of time to execute their responsibilities.

Who is responsible for notifying a project?

It is the responsibility of the client to notify the HSE of a construction project. The client can request someone else to notify on their behalf but they still remain responsible for the initial notification and any updates.

Does CDM apply to all maintenance work?

No not necessarily and it depends on what is deemed to be maintenance. However, if the maintenance work undertaken falls under the definition of ‘construction work’ under CDM then it does apply.

‘Construction work’ means the carrying out of any building, civil engineering, or engineering construction work and includes:

“The construction, alteration, conversion, fitting-out, commissioning, renovation, repair, upkeep, redecoration, or other maintenance (including cleaning which involves the use of water or an abrasive at high pressure, or the use of corrosive or toxic substances), decommissioning, demolition or dismantling of a structure”.