The Construction Design and Management Regulations also known as the CDM Regulations were first introduced in 1994 then substantially revised and reissued in 2007.  The regulations are wide ranging in application taking in the vast majority of construction work undertaken within commercial buildings.

The overriding purpose of the Regulations is to bring about a significant and lasting improvement in construction site health and safety through a set of procedures designed to improve the management of the construction process and the coordination of health and safety by all those involved in the construction process.

The regulations impose duties on those involved in the construction process and who are identified in the regulations as follows:

• Designers – the term designers can mean anyone who contributes significantly the design of a construction project.  This might include architects, surveyors, M&E consultants, contractors and event product manufacturers.  It all depends upon the circumstances surrounding a particular project. Learn more about Designer’s duties under the Regulations. Learn more about the designer’s duties.

• Client – a client is a person who commissions building work.  In most cases this is likely to be the building owner or the tenant of the building. Learn more about clients duties under The Regulations. Learn more about client’s duties.

• Principle Contractor – where a project is of more than 30 days duration or contains more than 500 person days of work then the project becomes notifiable under The Regulations and the Client must appoint a Principal Contractor as soon as reasonably practicable.  The Principal Contractor takes control of the project on site once building work commences and has a significant contribution to make into the latter stages of the design process. Learn more about Principal Contractor’s duties under the Regulations.

• Construction design and Management Coordinator (CDM-C) – again, when a project becomes notifiable then the client must appoint a  Construction Design and Management Coordinator.  It is essential that the appointment is made as soon as possible and in any event before any significant design and works take place. If a client fails to make an appointment or delays the appointment until design work is completed then the client may become the CDM-C by default.  Learn more about CDM-C duties.

• Contractors – in addition to the Principal Contractor there may be a number of other contractors on a construction site, either employed as sub contractors by the Principal Contractor or directly employed by the Client.  Learn more about Contractors duties. Learn more about the contractor’s duties.