CDM 2015 Software

CDM 2015 compliance software for UK construction.

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 govern every UK construction project. PICMS gives you a duty-holder evidence trail per project — Client, Principal Designer, Principal Contractor, Designers, Contractors — with pre-construction information, construction phase plans, H&S files and F10 notification tracking. From £89/month for sub-contractors; from £449/month for principal contractors needing integrated ISO 45001 cover.

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Five duty-holders. Three documents. One H&S file.

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, supported by HSE Approved Code of Practice L153, govern every construction project in Great Britain. The framework hinges on five duty-holder roles and three core documents — and the auditor (or HSE inspector) will sample each one.

CDM 2015 replaced the 2007 version with a simpler structure: duties scale with project size and complexity, but every project has the same five roles. Most sub-contractors think of themselves as "Contractor" only — but the moment you design temporary works, sequence other trades, or take on co-ordination duties, you've stepped into Principal Designer or Principal Contractor territory.

The PICMS Construction Pack treats each project as a structured workspace with the duty-holder appointments, pre-construction information, construction phase plan and H&S file all hanging off the same project ID. When the HSE inspector turns up unannounced, "show me your CDM file for site X" becomes a one-link answer.

The five duty-holders under CDM 2015

Reg 4

Client

The organisation having construction work carried out for them. Domestic clients are largely exempt; commercial clients have appointment-and-co-ordination duties. PICMS records the client appointment letters + co-ordination minutes.

Reg 5

Principal Designer (PD)

Required on every project with more than one contractor. Plans, manages, monitors the pre-construction phase. PICMS PD-appointment workflow tracks competence evidence, fee letter, scope of duty.

Reg 6

Principal Contractor (PC)

Required on every project with more than one contractor. Plans, manages, monitors the construction phase. PICMS PC-appointment workflow tracks competence, insurance, scope, and the construction phase plan handover.

Reg 9

Designer

Anyone who prepares or modifies a design — architects, engineers, temporary works designers, even a contractor doing detailing. Must apply the General Principles of Prevention. PICMS designer-register tracks competence + design risk assessments.

Reg 15

Contractor

Anyone managing or carrying out construction work. Plans, manages, monitors their own work; co-operates with the PC. PICMS contractor module covers sub-contractor PQQ, RAMS, induction, ongoing supervision.

The three CDM 2015 documents

Reg 4(4)

Pre-Construction Information (PCI)

Site-specific info passed from Client → Principal Designer → Principal Contractor. Existing services, asbestos surveys, ground conditions, neighbour constraints. PICMS PCI module structures the standard PCI sections + attaches survey reports.

Reg 12 + Schedule 3

Construction Phase Plan (CPP)

Drafted by the Principal Contractor BEFORE construction starts. Project description, programme, key dates, organisation chart, site rules, hazard management arrangements. PICMS CPP template includes the Schedule 3 minimum-content checklist.

Reg 12(5)

Health and Safety File

Compiled by Principal Designer (or, in absence, PC). Information the Client + future users will need to maintain the structure safely. Drawings, COSHH data, residual risks, maintenance regimes. PICMS H&S File module structures this with handover sign-off.

F10 Notification (Form 10)

Reg 6 + Sch 1

F10 — notifiable projects

Required when the project (a) lasts longer than 30 working days AND has more than 20 workers simultaneously, OR (b) exceeds 500 person-days. The Client (or PD on their behalf) notifies HSE via the F10 online form. PICMS flags F10 triggers at project setup and tracks the notification reference.

Project workspace with duty-holder evidence baked in

Project Workspace

Per-project hub with duty-holder appointments, PCI, CPP, H&S file, hazard log, training records, incidents, F10 reference. One project, one URL, everything CDM in one place.

Duty-Holder Appointment Workflow

Client → PD → PC appointment letters with competence evidence attached. Designer + Contractor registers per project. Audit-trailed for the inspector.

Pre-Construction Information (PCI)

Standard PCI section template — services, surveys, neighbour constraints, asbestos, ground conditions. Issue date + version tracking + handover sign-off to PC.

Construction Phase Plan (CPP)

Schedule 3 minimum-content checklist enforced. Project description, programme, hazard arrangements, site rules, emergency procedures, welfare. PDF export for the file.

H&S File

Compiled by PD or PC. Residual risks, drawings, COSHH data, maintenance instructions. Client handover sign-off + version control across project life.

F10 Notification Trigger

Project setup asks duration + worker count + person-days. Flags notifiable projects automatically. Records the F10 reference + date for the auditor.

Contractor Management

Sub-contractor PQQ aligned with Reg 8 competence requirements. RAMS per task. Induction tracking. CDM appointment letter per sub-contractor.

Incident Centre (RIDDOR + CDM)

Voice-enabled on-site incident logging. RIDDOR flagging at log-time. CDM Reg 19 (cooperation + coordination) evidence captured via on-site reports.

What PICMS doesn't do

Auditor-credible vendors don't pretend software replaces competent persons. PICMS does not:

  • Submit your F10 for you. PICMS flags the trigger and tracks the reference; the actual HSE F10 portal submission is yours.
  • Replace your Principal Designer or Principal Contractor competent person. Those roles still need real people with the right experience under Reg 8.
  • Design temporary works for you. PICMS records the design + approval trail; the design itself is human work.
  • Compile your H&S file content for you. The PD assembles it; PICMS structures the container + tracks the handover sign-off.

What PICMS does is keep the CDM 2015 documentation honest, current, and discoverable — so an HSE inspector turning up unannounced doesn't catch you with documents that haven't been version-controlled since 2023.

Who PICMS CDM 2015 is built for

  • Principal Contractors running concurrent projects who need consolidated CDM duty-holder evidence across the portfolio.
  • Principal Designers (architects, engineering practices) needing PD appointment + design risk assessment + H&S file evidence per project.
  • Sub-contractors and trade contractors wanting clean Contractor (Reg 15) evidence to back up SSIP renewals.
  • Specialist contractors (M&E, civils, demolition, scaffolding) where CDM evidence is sampled by every tier-1 main contractor at PQQ time.
  • ISO consultants managing construction-sector clients — see PICMS Partners.

Pricing

  • Construction Starter — £89/month. 5 users, full CDM 2015 project workspace + CHAS / Constructionline / SafeContractor evidence + hazard register + RAMS + training matrix + RIDDOR-aware incidents. Right tier for sub-contractors and small principal contractors handling CDM but not pursuing ISO certification.
  • Professional — £449/month. 5 users, 3 ISO standards (typically 9001 + 14001 + 45001), autonomous AI evidence agents, Construction pack included. Right when CDM is the floor and ISO 45001 is the ceiling.
  • Certification — £699/month. 5 ISO standards, 30 users, unlimited AI, two industry packs. Multi-project principal contractors running integrated EHSQ + cyber compliance.

See full pricing →

Related reading

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