Topic: CDM
What is CDM 2015?
A clear, plain-English guide to the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015: what CDM 2015 means, who it applies to, the main duty holders, key documents and how the regulations work in practice.
9 min read
CDM Hub
CDM 2015 guidance, tools and training
Plain-English guidance on the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 for clients, designers, contractors and project teams, with practical tools, checklists and role-relevant training.
Hub guidance and tools support competent professional judgement. They are not legal advice and do not give a definitive compliance determination.
Start here
New to CDM? Start here.
Four steps from the basics to training that fits the responsibilities you hold.
Step 1: Understand the basics
What CDM 2015 is, why it exists and how it works in practice.
Step 2: Check whether CDM applies
CDM applies broadly to construction work, including many small and domestic projects.
Free tool: Does CDM Apply?Coming soon
Step 3: Identify your duty-holder role
Your duties depend on the role you hold on a project, not simply your job title.
Free tool: CDM Duty Holder FinderComing soon
Step 4: Build knowledge for your role
Learn the core requirements, then follow a pathway based on your responsibilities.
What is CDM 2015?
CDM 2015 is the commonly used name for the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. The regulations set out how health, safety and welfare must be planned, managed and coordinated on construction projects in Great Britain.
They apply throughout the life of a project, from early planning and design through to construction, and place legal duties on clients, designers, contractors and other people involved in the work.
The aim is not paperwork for its own sake: health and safety should be part of how a project is planned, designed and delivered, not added at the end.
When does CDM apply?
CDM 2015 applies broadly to construction work in Great Britain, not only to major building projects. It includes domestic projects where someone else carries out construction work on the householder’s behalf.
“Construction work” is defined broadly. It includes:
- new build, alteration, conversion and fitting out
- renovation, repair and maintenance
- demolition, dismantling and site preparation
- installing, maintaining or removing fixed building services
Free tool: Does CDM Apply?Coming soonHow CDM applies in more detail
The CDM duty holders
CDM 2015 places duties on most of the main parties involved in construction work. What you must do depends on the role you hold.
Client
Make suitable arrangements for managing the project and appoint the right duty holders.
- Guide: CDM Client Duties ExplainedComing soon
- Checklist: CDM Client Duties ChecklistComing soon
Designer
Eliminate foreseeable risks where possible, then reduce or control risks that cannot be eliminated.
Principal Designer
Plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety during the pre-construction phase.
- Guide: Principal Designer DutiesComing soon
- Checklist: Principal Designer Duties ChecklistComing soon
Contractor
Plan, manage and monitor construction work under their control.
Principal Contractor
Plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety during the construction phase.
- Guide: Principal Contractor DutiesComing soon
- Checklist: Principal Contractor Duties ChecklistComing soon
Workers
Cooperate, follow arrangements and take reasonable care of themselves and others.
Where a project involves more than one contractor, the client must appoint a Principal Designer and a Principal Contractor.
Read about each duty holderFree tool: CDM Responsibilities MatrixComing soon
Key CDM documents
The main documents and notifications CDM 2015 asks project teams to prepare.
Pre-construction information
Information the client provides to designers and contractors so they can identify and manage the health and safety risks of the work.
- Checklist: Pre-Construction Information ChecklistComing soon
- Template: Pre-Construction Information TemplateComing soon
Construction phase plan
Prepared before the construction phase begins: by the contractor on a single-contractor project, or by the Principal Contractor where there is more than one.
- Checklist: Construction Phase Plan ChecklistComing soon
- Template: Construction Phase Plan TemplateComing soon
Health and safety file
Required for projects involving more than one contractor. The client must ensure the Principal Designer prepares it, to help plan future construction work safely.
F10 notification
Needed where work is expected to last longer than 30 working days with more than 20 workers at the same time, or to exceed 500 person-days.
- Free tool: F10 CheckerComing soon
CDM guides
Plain-English explanations of CDM duties and key concepts.
Topic: CDM
CDM Client Duties Explained
What clients need to do under CDM 2015, with practical steps, common challenges and the questions to ask at each stage.
Coming soonTopic: CDM
Principal Designer Duties
A practical guide to the Principal Designer role, its responsibilities and how to manage design risk effectively.
Coming soon
Free CDM tools
Quick interactive checks for guidance, with no sign-up needed.
- Coming soon
Free tool
Does CDM Apply?
Answer a few questions about your project to see whether CDM 2015 is likely to apply.
Guidance only. Not legal advice or a definitive compliance determination.
- Coming soon
Free tool
CDM Duty Holder Finder
Work through your part in a project to see which CDM 2015 duty-holder roles you are likely to hold.
Guidance only. Not legal advice or a definitive compliance determination.
- Coming soon
Free tool
F10 Checker
Check whether a project is likely to meet the threshold for notifying HSE using form F10.
Guidance only. Not legal advice or a definitive compliance determination.
- Coming soon
Free tool
CDM Responsibilities Matrix
See the main responsibilities of each CDM 2015 duty holder side by side.
Guidance only. Not legal advice or a definitive compliance determination.
CDM checklists
Working checklists for common duty-holder tasks.
- Coming soon
Checklist
CDM Client Duties Checklist
The duties a commercial client holds under CDM 2015, set out as a working checklist.
- Coming soon
Checklist
Principal Designer Duties Checklist
What the Principal Designer plans, manages, monitors and coordinates during the pre-construction phase.
- Coming soon
Checklist
Principal Contractor Duties Checklist
What the Principal Contractor plans, manages, monitors and coordinates during the construction phase.
- Coming soon
Checklist
Construction Phase Plan Checklist
What a construction phase plan should cover before work starts on site.
- Coming soon
Checklist
Pre-Construction Information Checklist
The pre-construction information a client should provide to designers and contractors.
CDM training
CDM Regulations 2015 Training
Aptoris is developing CDM Regulations 2015 Training that keeps the required core consistent, then adds role-relevant learning based on the responsibilities a learner actually holds.