Yes — in most cases, you do. Under the CDM 2015 (Construction Design & Management Regulations), any project involving more than one contractor requires the client to appoint a Principal Designer. This applies whether you're doing a full office refurbishment, a Cat B fit-out, or even structural changes within a small commercial unit.

If you don’t make this appointment, the legal responsibility for health and safety during the design phase falls on you, the client. At EE Architects, we act as your Principal Designer and lead architect — handling both the creative and compliance sides to ensure your office project is safe, legal, and hassle-free.

Office fit-outs and refurbishments come with a mix of technical and regulatory challenges, including:

-Fire escape strategy and compartmentation

-Emergency lighting and alarm zones

-Accessibility and Equality Act compliance

-Managing construction in a live working environment

-Asbestos surveys and health risk management

-Mechanical and electrical safety integrations

If these risks aren’t spotted early and designed for, they can cause serious delays or building control issues. That’s why EE Architects takes a compliance-first approach — we anticipate and resolve these issues before they hit your site.

The best time is as early as possible — ideally, before any design work or contractor appointments begin. By involving EE Architects at the concept stage, we can:

-Ensure your plans align with Building Regs and fire safety

-Flag risks in your initial design brief

-Coordinate early with your contractors and duty holders

-Handle all HSE notification requirements if applicable

This proactive approach saves time, reduces risk, and keeps your project running smoothly. Waiting too long to involve a Principal Designer often leads to delays and avoidable redesign costs.

At EE Architects, our office refurbishment compliance service covers both design and safety under one roof. We offer:

-Full CDM Principal Designer role

-Health & safety risk assessments during design

-HSE documentation (F10 notification, PCI packs)

-Coordination with M&E consultants, engineers, and contractors

-Building Regulations compliance (Part B, M, K, L, etc.)

-Pre-construction site audits and planning support

Everything’s tailored to your scale, timeline, and budget — whether it’s a 2-room office or a full-floor workspace.

The key difference is integration. Most CDM consultants come in after the design is done — which can cause delays, rework, and cost increases. At EE Architects, we’re architects who are also qualified Principal Designers, which means:

-Fewer handovers, more efficiency

-Design decisions made with compliance in mind from day one

-Local knowledge of West London building control and office building types

-One point of contact from concept to completion

We make sure your office doesn’t just look good — it works, passes inspections, and keeps your team safe.