Aipedia: Principal designers and building safety

AI compliance checks for principal designers

Aipedia, by the Apex broking team · Last reviewed 2026-10-27

A principal designer can use AI to find compliance issues faster, but cannot delegate the conclusion that a design complies. Where the error concerns fire safety, PI cover may be narrower than for other claims.

Part of: AI in principal design and building safety

How PDs use AI rule-checking

AI and rules-based checkers can run a model or drawing set against the Approved Documents, flagging things like travel distances, door widths, stair geometry and glazing ratios. Generative AI chatbots are also used to summarise what an Approved Document says or to draft compliance tables. For a PD coordinating several designers, the attraction is a single view of compliance across the project.

Architects face the same question from the designer's side; see AI building regulations checks for architects. The PD's question is different: what can be delegated to software, and what must remain a judgement the PD makes or checks? The AI for principal designers overview covers other PD uses of AI.

What a PD can and cannot delegate

Under Part 2A of the Building Regulations 2010, compliance duties sit with people, not tools:

• Reg 11K: each designer must take all reasonable steps to ensure its design would comply if built and must report concerns to the PD.
• Reg 11M: the PD must coordinate design work so that the design would comply if built.
• Regs 11F and 11G: the PD must have the skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours, or organisational capability, for the role.

A PD can reasonably use software to find candidate issues faster. It cannot delegate the conclusion that the design complies, because software has no competence in the Part 2A sense and cannot weigh design intent, functional requirements or the interaction between Parts. Approved Documents give guidance on meeting the requirements; whether a design meets the functional requirement is a judgement. The competence question guide explains how this links to reg 11G.

What can go wrong

Illustrative scenario. A PD runs a checker across a mixed-use scheme and circulates a report showing no Part B issues. The tool assessed escape widths against occupancy figures from the model, but a late change of use on one floor increased occupancy and was not reflected in the model data. Nobody rechecked, because the report said compliant. The issue is raised late, the stair needs widening, and the client claims redesign costs from the PD and the architect.

Other ways compliance checking misleads:

• the tool applies an older edition of guidance;
• it cannot see information held outside the model, such as the fire strategy;
• a chatbot paraphrases guidance inaccurately or states it with false certainty;
• results are presented as "pass" when the rule is only partly checked.

Apex's guide to PD exposure for architects explains why PDs who are also architects carry a combined exposure.

Fire safety PI restrictions

Fire safety is where a compliance error costs most and where PI may be limited:

• ARB's PII guidance allows aggregate or restricted fire safety and cladding cover only after reasonable efforts to find full cover;
• under the RICS PII requirements, cover for fire safety on buildings of five storeys and above is negligence-only with a 1 July 2024 retroactive date.

So a Part B error found by, or missed by, an AI checker may be covered on narrower terms than other claims. Other errors will usually be treated as ordinary negligence claims, subject to the wording. See fire safety and cladding exclusions in PI.

Practical controls

• Record the edition of each Approved Document and standard the tool applied.
• Treat every "pass" as unverified until a competent person has reviewed it.
• Check the tool's inputs, especially occupancy, use class and storey heights.
• Route Part B results through the fire strategy review (see AI review of fire strategies).
• Keep the reasoning behind each compliance conclusion, not just the report.
• Coordinate with designers on what each has checked (see AI design coordination).

How Apex helps

Apex arranges PI for principal designers. A broker can explain how your fire safety terms would apply to a compliance error and whether your declared activities cover compliance checking across other designers' work.

Sources

• Building Regulations 2010, Part 2A (dutyholders and competence)
• ARB: Professional indemnity insurance guidance
• RICS: Professional indemnity insurance requirements (UK and Ireland)

Frequently asked

Apex Insurance Brokers Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales, company number 07014570. This page is general information about how AI is used in the profession and how insurance may respond. It is not legal, regulatory or insurance advice on your circumstances, and it does not guarantee that cover will be available or on what terms.