Temporary works compliance in the UK is achieved through a combination of statutory duties under CDM 2015 and procedural controls defined in BS 5975, where safety depends not only on adequate design but on maintaining a controlled lifecycle of coordination, verification, inspection and formal permit systems; failures are rarely caused by calculation errors alone, but by breakdowns in management control, unclear responsibilities, or unverified changes during installation and use.
What Is Temporary Works Compliance?
Temporary works compliance refers to the requirement to ensure that temporary structures used during construction are safe, properly designed, and correctly implemented. These works can include scaffolding, formwork, propping, falsework, excavation support and access systems.
Although temporary works are not part of the permanent structure, they often carry significant loads and interact directly with the permanent works during construction. For this reason, they must be treated with the same level of engineering control, planning and verification as permanent works.
Compliance is therefore not simply about producing a design, but about ensuring that temporary works are managed through a controlled process from concept through to removal.
Legal Framework: CDM 2015 Duties
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 establish the legal framework for managing construction risks in the UK, including those associated with temporary works.
Under CDM 2015:
- Clients must ensure that suitable management arrangements are in place
- Designers must eliminate, reduce or control risks through design
- Contractors must plan, manage and monitor construction work
- All parties must ensure competence and adequate resources
Temporary works fall fully within these duties. Any temporary structure must be designed, installed and maintained so that it can safely withstand foreseeable loads and conditions during construction.
In practice, compliance with CDM 2015 requires demonstrable control of temporary works through documented procedures, competent personnel and verifiable inspection regimes.
BS 5975: The Temporary Works Control System
BS 5975 is the primary UK code of practice for temporary works. While it is not legislation, it is widely recognised as the standard method of demonstrating compliance with legal duties.
The standard defines temporary works as a controlled system, covering:
- Planning and coordination
- Design and design checking
- Implementation and supervision
- Inspection and verification
- Use and dismantling
The key principle is that temporary works must be controlled through a structured lifecycle, ensuring that all stages are planned, checked and formally approved before progressing.
This procedural approach recognises that failures are more likely to occur due to breakdowns in management and coordination than purely technical design errors.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
Effective temporary works compliance depends on clearly defined roles within the project organisation.
Designated Individual (DI)
The Designated Individual is a senior person within the organisation responsible for establishing and maintaining procedures for the control of temporary works. This role ensures that appropriate systems, resources and competent personnel are in place.
Temporary Works Coordinator (TWC)
The Temporary Works Coordinator is responsible for managing the temporary works process on behalf of the contractor. Duties typically include:
- Ensuring designs are prepared and checked
- Maintaining the temporary works register
- Coordinating between designers and site teams
- Verifying that works are constructed in accordance with design
- Authorising permits for loading or dismantling
The TWC has the authority to stop work where temporary works are not safe or do not comply with the approved design.
Temporary Works Supervisor (TWS)
The Temporary Works Supervisor supports the TWC by overseeing installation and carrying out routine inspections on site. This role provides day-to-day supervision of temporary works activities.
The Temporary Works Compliance Process
Compliance is achieved through a structured sequence of activities that control each stage of the temporary works lifecycle.
1. Design Brief
A design brief is prepared to define the requirements, loads, constraints and interfaces associated with the temporary works. This forms the basis of the design.
2. Design
The temporary works designer develops a solution based on the brief, including calculations, drawings and specifications.
3. Design Check
Designs are checked according to risk-based categories. Higher-risk designs require independent or third-party checking to ensure robustness.
4. Temporary Works Register
A register is maintained to track all temporary works items, including their status from design through to dismantling. This acts as the central control document for the process.
5. Installation
Temporary works are installed in accordance with the approved design, method statements and risk assessments.
6. Inspection
Inspections are carried out to verify that the works have been constructed correctly and are safe for use.
7. Permit to Load
A formal permit is issued confirming that the temporary works can be loaded or brought into use.
8. Use and Monitoring
Temporary works are monitored during use to ensure ongoing stability and compliance.
9. Permit to Dismantle
A final permit confirms that it is safe to remove the temporary works, typically after the permanent structure has achieved sufficient strength.
This structured process ensures that no stage proceeds without verification and approval.
Design Check Categories (0–3)
BS 5975 introduces a system of design check categories to reflect the level of risk associated with temporary works.
- Category 0: Standard solutions, requiring minimal checking
- Category 1: Simple designs, checked by another competent person
- Category 2: More complex designs, requiring independent checking
- Category 3: High-risk or unusual designs, requiring full independent or third-party review
The level of checking increases with complexity and risk, ensuring that higher-risk works receive greater scrutiny.
Inspection and Verification Requirements
Inspection is a critical component of compliance and must be carried out by competent persons.
Typical inspection requirements include:
- Before first use
- At regular intervals during use
- After significant events such as high winds or impact
- Following any alteration or modification
For certain temporary works, such as scaffolding, inspections may be required at defined intervals, often every seven days, or as specified in the risk assessment. Inspection records form part of the evidence demonstrating compliance.
Permit Systems and Control Points
Permit systems act as formal control points within the temporary works lifecycle.
The most common permits include:
- Permit to Load — confirming that the structure is safe to use
- Permit to Dismantle — confirming that removal will not compromise safety
These permits ensure that temporary works are not used or removed without appropriate verification and authorisation. They are essential for maintaining control, particularly on complex or high-risk projects.
Where Temporary Works Compliance Fails
Despite established procedures, failures still occur. In most cases, these are not due to incorrect calculations, but due to breakdowns in control.
Common failure points include:
- Incomplete or unclear design briefs
- Poor coordination between contractors and designers
- Failure to maintain the temporary works register
- Uncontrolled changes during installation
- Missing or bypassed permit systems
- Inadequate inspection and supervision
These issues highlight that compliance is primarily a management and coordination challenge, rather than a purely technical one.
Temporary Works and Building Safety Compliance
Temporary works play an important role in demonstrating compliance under the Building Safety Act and Building Safety Regulator requirements.
They generate key evidence, including:
- Design certificates and calculations
- Design check approvals
- Inspection records
- Permit documentation
These records contribute to the Golden Thread of information, providing traceable evidence that risks have been identified, managed and controlled throughout construction. As regulatory scrutiny increases, the quality and completeness of temporary works documentation are becoming increasingly important.
Evidence-Based Summary
Temporary works compliance in the UK is achieved through the integration of legal duties under CDM 2015 and structured procedural controls defined in BS 5975. While design adequacy is essential, evidence shows that most failures occur due to breakdowns in coordination, verification and implementation rather than calculation errors.
What is temporary works compliance?
Temporary works compliance is the process of ensuring that temporary structures in construction are safely designed, installed, used and dismantled in accordance with legal duties under CDM 2015 and industry procedures set out in BS 5975. For a full breakdown of what temporary works are and how they are applied on site, see Temporary Works Explained (BS 5975): What They Are and Why They Matter on Site.
Is BS 5975 a legal requirement?
BS 5975 is not law, but it is the recognised UK code of practice for temporary works. Following it is the most common way to demonstrate compliance with legal duties under CDM 2015 and the Health and Safety at Work Act. A full overview of how the standard is applied in practice can be found in Temporary Works UK: BS 5975 Compliance Guidance.
Who is responsible for temporary works on site?
Responsibility for temporary works is shared across the project team, but the principal contractor is responsible for managing the process. The Temporary Works Coordinator (TWC) controls the system, supported by the Designated Individual (DI) and Temporary Works Supervisor (TWS). A full breakdown is provided in Temporary Works Responsibilities Matrix (BS 5975): Who Does What on Site.
What does a Temporary Works Coordinator (TWC) do?
The Temporary Works Coordinator manages the temporary works process, ensuring designs are prepared and checked, the register is maintained, inspections are carried out, and permits are issued. The TWC has authority to stop work if temporary works are unsafe. For detailed duties and responsibilities, see Temporary Works Coordinator (TWC) Duties Explained: Roles, Responsibilities and BS 5975 Compliance.
What is a Temporary Works Register?
A Temporary Works Register is a live document that tracks all temporary works items on a project, including their design status, checking, installation, inspection and dismantling. It is the main control tool for managing temporary works. For detailed requirements, see Temporary Works Register Explained (BS 5975): What It Is and What Must Be Included.
What are design check categories in BS 5975?
BS 5975 defines design check categories from 0 to 3 based on risk and complexity. Category 0 covers standard solutions, while Category 3 applies to high-risk or complex designs requiring independent checking. A full explanation is available in Temporary Works Design Check Categories Explained (BS 5975): Category 0, 1, 2 and 3.
What is a Permit to Load?
A Permit to Load is a formal approval issued by the Temporary Works Coordinator confirming that the temporary works have been installed correctly and are safe to support loads or be brought into use. For a full breakdown of permit systems, see Temporary Works Permits Explained (BS 5975): Permit-to-Load, Permit-to-Proceed and Site Control.
What is a Permit to Dismantle?
A Permit to Dismantle confirms that the temporary works can be safely removed without compromising the stability of the permanent structure or ongoing construction activities. This is part of the wider permit system explained in Temporary Works Permits Explained (BS 5975): Permit-to-Load, Permit-to-Proceed and Site Control.
How often should temporary works be inspected?
Temporary works should be inspected before first use, at regular intervals during use, and after events such as high winds, impact or alterations. The frequency depends on the level of risk and type of structure. Detailed guidance is available in Temporary Works Inspections Explained (BS 5975): When, Who and What Must Be Checked on Site.
Why do temporary works fail?
Temporary works failures are rarely caused by design errors. Most failures occur due to poor coordination, lack of control, missing inspections, unapproved changes, or failure to follow permit procedures. A full analysis is provided in Temporary Works Failures Explained: Why Incidents Happen on UK Construction Sites.
What is a Temporary Works Supervisor (TWS)?
The Temporary Works Supervisor supports the Temporary Works Coordinator by supervising installation and carrying out routine inspections on site. This role ensures that temporary works are constructed in accordance with the approved design. For detailed responsibilities, see Temporary Works Supervisor (TWS) Duties Explained: Site Responsibilities and BS 5975 Compliance.
What is included in a Temporary Works design brief?
A Temporary Works design brief defines the requirements, constraints, loads and interfaces for the temporary works and forms the basis of the design. It is a critical part of the control process. For detailed guidance, see Temporary Works Design Brief Explained (BS 5975): What It Must Include and Why It Matters.
What is a Temporary Works risk assessment?
A Temporary Works risk assessment identifies hazards associated with temporary works and defines control measures to manage those risks during construction. It supports safe planning and execution. For more detail, see Temporary Works Risk Assessment Explained (BS 5975): How to Identify and Control Site Risks.
How is temporary works compliance verified?
Temporary works compliance is verified through inspection, documentation, checklists, permits and audits that confirm the system is being followed. Verification ensures that the temporary works match the approved design and are safe to use. For detailed verification methods, see Temporary Works Audit & Compliance (BS 5975): How to Verify the System Is Working on Site.
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Expert Verification & Authorship: Mihai Chelmus
Founder, London Construction Magazine | Construction Testing & Investigation Specialist |
