This second edition of RIBA Principal Designer Guide, a companion guide to the RIBA Health and Safety Guide 3rd Edition, provides architects with the essential guidance required to understand the Principal Designer duties under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 and Part 2A of the Building Regulations 2010, including guidance relevant to higher-risk building projects. To support individuals in demonstrating the necessary competence to be a Principal Designer, RIBA has introduced a specialist register for this role, entry to which includes a comprehensive assessment of individuals’ skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours, as described in detail in this publication. The must-have content considers:

• the implications of the statutory duties and competence requirements
• practical approaches to discharging those duties for practices and designers
• potential impacts on fees, resources and project delivery
• approaches to planning, managing, monitoring discharge of the duties
• how to manage and evidence compliance.

Dieter Bentley-Gockmann is a Chartered Architect and Director at EPR Architects Limited. In his role as Director of EPR Architects’ Technical Services team, Dieter oversees and advises the practice’s designers regarding all aspects of regulatory and professional compliance. Dieter is current chair of the RIBA’s Regulations and Standards advisory group and a member of the RIBA’s Practice and Profession Committee.