Structural Engineering Reports for High-Rise Buildings: What You Need to Know
Managing a high-rise residential building (HRB) now comes with new legal duties under the Building Safety Act 2022. One of the most important requirements is to provide a Structural Engineering Report as part of the Building Safety Case, clear evidence to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) that your building is structurally safe and that risks of failure are actively managed.
What Counts as a High-Rise Building
Under the Act, a Higher-Risk Building (HRB) is any building that is at least 18 metres or seven storeys tall and contains two or more residential units. The Principal Accountable Person (PAP) for such a building must compile a Safety Case Report including a “suitable and sufficient” assessment of the risk of structural failure (Section 83). Without this, the BSR may refuse to issue the mandatory Building Assessment Certificate.
What a Structural Engineering Report Should Cover
A robust, BSR-ready structural report typically includes:
- Building Overview: height, number of storeys, age, use and primary structural system (reinforced concrete, steel, masonry, or hybrid).
- Review of Records: original drawings, previous surveys, refurbishment history and any known structural incidents.
- On-Site Inspection: visual review of key load-bearing elements (columns, beams, slabs, walls, roofs, stair cores) and, if necessary, targeted intrusive checks such as concrete scanning, cover depth testing or core sampling.
- Structural Risk Assessment: evaluation of possible failure modes (progressive collapse, corrosion, settlement, deflection) and legacy concerns such as RAAC or Large Panel System (LPS) construction.
- Compliance Mapping: clear explanation of how the assessment fulfils the PAP’s legal duties under Sections 83 and 84 of the Act.
- Recommendations: urgent or planned remedial work, monitoring strategies and long-term maintenance advice.
The final report should be technically robust yet understandable to non-engineers, giving regulators and owners clear, actionable evidence.
Who Should Prepare the Report
The Act does not demand a specific qualification, but the BSR expects the report to be produced by a competent person. For high-rise buildings, it is best practice to have it prepared or signed by a Chartered Structural Engineer (MIStructE or MICE) with experience in tall or complex structures. This gives dutyholders confidence that the report will stand up to regulatory scrutiny.
Why It Matters
A well-prepared structural report ensures legal compliance, protects resident safety, supports fire and evacuation planning, and preserves the long-term value and insurability of the building. It also demonstrates proactive risk management to residents, lenders and insurers.
How We Can Help
At Structures Made Easy, we specialise in producing BSR-ready structural engineering reports for high-risk and multi-storey buildings. Our chartered engineers deliver clear, evidence-based assessments that integrate seamlessly with your Safety Case submission and help you meet Building Safety Act obligations with confidence.
- Competence/chartered sign-off.
- Proven HRB experience.
- Fast turnaround.
- Portfolio pricing.
- BSR-ready reporting format.
Why choose us?
With over 3000 successfully completed projects to date, we have consistently proven ourselves to be a leader in the industry. From design cross check procedures to quality control measures, we will ensure your project is completed to your exact specifications.
100% Success in Building Regs
Fully Qualified SE
Transparent Fees
Practical & Efficient Designs
Clear Advice
Fast Turnaround
We make all our processes as simple as
possible giving you peace of mind
STEP 1
Get a quote. Refer to enquiry form or email or speak to engineer
STEP 2
Arrange site inspection
STEP 3
Report delivered