The Building Safety Act 2022 introduced a new regulatory framework for the design, construction, and management of buildings in England, with particularly stringent requirements for higher-risk buildings. For refurbishment contractors, it means formal duty holder appointments, mandatory competency assessments for all personnel and subcontractors, Gateway approvals before and after construction, and the ongoing maintenance of a Golden Thread of information. Fortis Vision operates fully within this framework as an appointed Principal Contractor on HRB projects, with the systems, training, and accreditations to evidence it.

Under the Building Safety Act 2022, a higher-risk building is defined as a residential building of at least 18 metres in height or seven or more storeys. These buildings are subject to the most stringent safety requirements, including Gateway approvals by the Building Safety Regulator and enhanced competency obligations for all duty holders. Fortis Vision has extensive experience working on HRBs, including occupied PBSA projects and complex conversion projects. To date we have refurbished over 20,000 bedrooms in the PBSA sector, a significant number of which meet the HRB threshold.

Competency under the Building Safety Act is assessed across four dimensions: skills, knowledge, experience, and behaviour. At Fortis Vision, every individual working on an HRB project undergoes a project-specific competency assessment before work begins, aligned to PAS 8671, PAS 8672, and BS 8670. Our Project Managers hold relevant degree-level or NVQ Level 7 qualifications; our Site Managers hold SMSTS, CSCS, and where appropriate IOSH or NEBOSH certifications. We hold Building a Safer Future Champion status and are members of Constructionline Gold, CHAS, and SafeContractor.

The Golden Thread is a digital record of all safety-critical information relating to a building – covering design decisions, construction records, materials, risk assessments, and compliance documentation. Under the Building Safety Act, Principal Contractors are required to create and maintain it throughout the construction phase. Fortis Vision uses Procore as its Common Data Environment to manage the Golden Thread on every HRB project. All documents are version-controlled, accessible to all authorised duty holders in real time, and structured to support Gateway submissions and eventual handover to the Accountable Person.

Yes. In-occupation refurbishment is one of our core specialisms. We regularly carry out works in live student accommodation, care homes, hotels, and office environments where minimising disruption to residents and operations is critical. Our teams are trained to work sensitively within occupied buildings, with careful area segregation, controlled working hours where required, proactive communication with building managers and residents, and robust site management that prioritises the safety and comfort of those living or working around us.

We take full responsibility for the competency of our supply chain on every project. Prior to appointment on any HRB project, subcontractors are screened against Building Safety Act requirements – including review of qualifications, past project performance, and compliance with PAS 8671 and BS 8670. Contractual terms require adherence to Gateway requirements and the Golden Thread principle. We monitor subcontractor performance throughout the project, and any concerns regarding competency or compliance are escalated immediately to Director level.

Fortis Vision holds ISO 9001 (Quality Management), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management), and ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety Management) certifications. These are supported by accreditations including Constructionline Gold, CHAS, SafeContractor, Acclaim, EcoVadis, Cyber Essentials, and Considerate Constructors registration. Together, these provide clients with independent verification that our quality, safety, and environmental practices meet internationally recognised standards.

Quality control at Fortis Vision is proactive, not reactive. On every project, designated personnel carry out daily site audits at random locations, with all findings logged in our Quality Control register. Subcontractors are required to submit their own QC sheets for review and approval before progressing to the next stage of works. Non-conformances are formally documented, tracked, and only closed once corrective action has been independently verified. Inspection and Test Plans are developed for all permanent works activities, and material deliveries are subject to pre-delivery inspection to confirm they meet specification before installation.

Procore is a cloud-based construction management platform that Fortis Vision uses as its Common Data Environment across all projects. It gives all authorised project participants – clients, designers, subcontractors, and duty holders – real-time access to the most current project information, including drawings, specifications, risk assessments, inspection records, and change control logs. On higher-risk building projects, Procore forms the backbone of our Golden Thread management, ensuring that all safety-critical information is accurately maintained, version-controlled, and readily available for Gateway submissions and regulatory audit.

Building a Safer Future (BSF) is an industry-led initiative driving culture change in construction in response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy and the subsequent regulatory reforms. Champion status is awarded to organisations that demonstrate a genuine, evidenced commitment to building safety – not just compliance, but culture. Fortis Vision holds BSF Champion status, reflecting our commitment to safety-first working practices, ongoing staff training, transparent stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement in how we deliver and manage buildings.