Principal Designer Appointment Letter

Principal Designer appointment letter FAQs

• Is this Principal Designer Appointment Letter free?

  Yes. It is free to download, with no sign-up and no email address needed. Select Download the free Word template and the file downloads straight away.

• Is the template editable in Microsoft Word?

  Yes. It is an editable Word document (.docx) with no macros. Each prompt sits in a Word content control: click it and type to replace it. Other software that opens .docx files should work, although formatting may vary.

• When does a Principal Designer need to be appointed?

  Where more than one contractor is, or is reasonably foreseeable to be, working on the project at any time, the client must appoint a Principal Designer as soon as practicable and before the construction phase begins. HSE guidance says to appoint as early as possible in the design process. See when a Principal Designer must be appointed.

• Does the appointment have to be in writing?

  Yes. Regulation 5 requires the client to make the appointment in writing. This letter is one simple way to do that.

• What information should a Principal Designer appointment letter contain?

  CDM 2015 does not prescribe the content. A clear letter identifies the client, the Principal Designer, the project and the effective date, and states that the appointee is appointed as Principal Designer under CDM 2015. See what the letter should cover.

• Does the Principal Designer have to sign the letter?

  CDM 2015 requires the client to make the appointment in writing; it does not require the Principal Designer to sign. The template’s acknowledgement section is an optional record of receipt.

• Can an individual be appointed as Principal Designer?

  Yes. HSE guidance says the Principal Designer can be an organisation or an individual, provided they are a designer with control over the pre-construction phase and have the skills, knowledge and experience the role needs. The letter’s prompts work for either. See who can be a Principal Designer.

• Can the appointment be included in a commercial contract instead?

  Yes. The appointment can sit within a professional-services agreement or another written document, provided the Principal Designer role, the appointee, the project and the effective date are clear. See appointments in a professional agreement.

• Is the CDM Principal Designer the same as the Building Regulations Principal Designer?

  No. They are separate statutory roles. This template records the appointment under CDM 2015 only and does not by itself appoint a Principal Designer under the Building Regulations. See how the two roles differ.

• Can this template be used for domestic-client projects?

  It is designed for commercial clients. Different arrangements apply to domestic clients under Regulation 7, so check the domestic client arrangements before using it.

• Is this an official HSE Principal Designer appointment form?

  No. Aptoris is independent, and this template is not produced, approved or endorsed by HSE. CDM 2015 does not prescribe an appointment form. For authoritative requirements, refer to CDM 2015 and HSE’s guidance, L153 (opens in a new tab).