There is rarely one universal reason.
A safety case may contain a great deal of information but still fail to demonstrate that the Principal Accountable Person understands and is managing the building's safety risks.
Potential weaknesses include insufficient building-specific information; inadequate assessment of fire spread or structural failure scenarios; assertions that are not supported by evidence; significant findings from surveys that are not reflected in the safety case; actions with no timescale or interim measures; legacy features assessed only against modern standards without explaining the actual risk; insufficient justification for decisions not to undertake further work; uncertainty about construction or structural condition that is not acknowledged or managed; inadequate explanation of how safety-critical measures are maintained and monitored; and a report that describes compliance activities without bringing them together into a coherent risk argument.
A useful first step following a refusal or RFI is therefore to assess the report against the BSR's published criteria and identify whether the problem is missing information, weak evidence or insufficient demonstration of risk management.
Next step
Talk to us about reviewing your building safety case
Already have a report? We can look at the risk argument and the evidence behind it.
Find out moreRelated questions
- What are the most common weaknesses in building safety case reports?
The most common weakness is treating the safety case as a compliance report rather than a risk management argument.
- What happens if the BSR does not accept a safety case report?
A report that does not adequately demonstrate how building safety risks are managed may lead to requests for further information or contribute to a Building Assessment Certificate application being refused.
- Can you resubmit a safety case report after a BSR refusal?
Yes — but the response should address the underlying risk and evidence issues, not just reword the report.
Building safety legislation, regulation and Building Safety Regulator guidance can change. This page is general information, not legal advice — always refer to current legislation and official guidance for your building.