Construction Design Management (CDM) Capability at IES

• Acted as Principal Designer and Principal Contractor under CDM 2015 regulations for a University of Southampton equipment delivery to the B46 laboratory, managing sub-contractors and the full construction-phase health and safety plan.
• Solved a no-corridor-access problem by routing oversized equipment through building windows — constructing special-purpose platforms both outside and inside, forklifting equipment onto the external platform, then wheeling it through on machine skates using an A-frame to lower it to the interior floor.
• Delivered full CDM compliance services including F10 project notification to the HSE, pre-construction information collation, and management of the project's health and safety file — covering the statutory obligations many smaller clients aren't aware apply to sub-contracted projects.

Changes to CDM

CDM was introduced by the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in 1994, before being updated in 1995 and 2015 with the aim of clarifying roles and responsibilities with project management, and encouraging the integration of health and safety.

CDM requires that a designated Principal Designer prepare (and, depending on the planned size / duration of the project, take responsibility for notifying the HSE) a Construction Phase Health and Safety Plan prior to implementation.

IES working under CDM with the University of Southampton

The IES team has considerable experience in construction phase planning and working under CDM. IES has acted as Principal Designer and Principal Contractor on various projects, most recently for the University of Southampton, providing a team of engineers as well as the management and supervision of the sub-contractors involved.

The project involved the delivery and move of equipment to the University’s B46 laboratory. The challenge was size. The equipment was too big to be moved down the university’s narrow corridors. Access could only be achieved through the building’s windows, access to these necessitated the building of special purpose platforms both outside and inside the windows to minimise height differentials.

The equipment was forklifted onto the external platform and then wheeled through the windows on machine stakes, an A frame being used to lift from the inner platform to the floor. These are delicate items of equipment and great care had to be taken to minimise stress on them during the lifting process.

Engineering Project Management from IES – benefit from an expert consultancy drawing on unmatched knowledge in several service areas.  

CDM Services from IES

IES offers principal designer and principal contractor services, including:

• Assisting the client in identifying, obtaining and collating pre-construction information
• Supplying all necessary pre-construction information to designers, and any other contractors involved
• Producing the project’s pre-construction phase plan
• Depending on the size of project, submitting a F10 project notifications to the HSE
• Ensuring the design team comply with their duties and cooperate with each other
• Liaising with all contractors for the duration of the project
• Preparing and managing the project’s health and safety file
• Providing site rules and their management, including permits to work, site supervisions and other day-to-day activities
• Liaising with the client and ensuring they are aware of and satisfy their duties.

The benefits of CDM for our customers

Not all customers will be immediately aware of their statutory obligations to run projects under CDM regulations. Smaller companies may not realise that any project they sub-contract automatically requires CDM, and that the HSE are increasingly vigilant in their spot checks on projects they become aware of.

Working with IES carries with it a number of benefits:

• IES has experienced CDM project engineers to ensure compliance
• IES can take responsibility for all aspects of a project
• IES has the capability to work with customers to meet their individual compliance needs
• We offer a single point of contact for every element of management and delivery of a project
• The peace of mind which comes with a proven, end-to-end solution

Compliance and CDM services protect your project, your people and your business. IES delivers fully CDM-compliant project management for every complex equipment move.