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What is a safety file?

A safety file is the record handed over at the end of a project containing information needed to carry out future maintenance, alteration or demolition safely — as-built drawings, structural details, services layouts and hazardous material information.

The PSDP prepares the file and it is handed to the client at completion. It is a live document — future works should be added so the next owner has an accurate record.

It is separate from the building regulations compliance documentation, though the two overlap. Purchasers increasingly ask for both.

Typical contents

  • As-built drawings and specifications
  • Structural design assumptions and loadings
  • Location of services and isolation points
  • Maintenance and cleaning access arrangements
  • Details of any hazardous materials remaining

Sources

Last reviewed 28 August 2026. General information only — not legal or planning advice.

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