Request for pre-construction information

Construction work clients should proactively send out pre-construction information, but what should you do as a contractor if they don’t know this? Rather than struggle on, use our document.

The law

The duty to provide pre-construction information falls within the client’s duties under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM). However, it’s understandable that clients often fail to do this because many have little experience of construction and may not have heard of CDM.

If you’re a contractor whose client is in this category you might need to give them a nudge in order to receive the details you need, e.g. drawings, information about other appointees and site hazards. To do this politely and effectively, use our Request for Pre-construction Information. By doing so, you’ll have a better opportunity to plan and co-ordinate the work.

How to use the form

At the beginning of the form you’re asked to complete: (1) your business name and the client’s; (2) the reason for the request, e.g. to prepare a tender or construction phase plan; (3) the project name and location; and (4) the contact details for returning the completed form and accompanying information. There are also instructions for the recipient of the form.

The form accounts for a very broad range of construction tasks, but an inexperienced client may struggle to understand what applies to them. We therefore suggest that you read the three pages of questions and delete those which aren’t necessary.

What’s covered?

The list of questions starts with ten points under the heading “Project description”. It sets out the framework for the job including the scope of works, drawings and programme timings.

This is followed by the “Client’s considerations and management requirements”, covering practical arrangements such as lines of communication, site parking rules, weight restrictions, fire safety requirements, smoking restrictions and welfare facilities.

Section three lists types of hazard for which advance warning is needed, e.g. confined spaces, hazardous materials in the existing structure, ground conditions and the location of underground services and overhead lines.

Under CDM the client must pass on information about risks which have been identified by designers, design assumptions, suggested work methods (where applicable) and arrangements for co-ordinating design changes during the work. These matters are covered in the fourth section.

The final section asks about arrangements for the health and safety file, a folder of information which assists with the ongoing management of the structure once the project has finished.