CDM/General/TBT-CDM-009

Pre-Construction Information

CDM & Legal Framework › General › Pre-Construction Information

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Pre-construction information (PCI) is gathered by the client and provided to designers and contractors under CDM 2015.
It contains everything known about the project that could affect the health and safety of those doing the work.
PCI includes site surveys, ground conditions, existing services, asbestos reports, and adjacent hazards.
The client has a legal duty under CDM 2015 Regulation 4 to provide PCI as soon as practicable.
Without adequate PCI, contractors cannot properly plan, manage, or price the health and safety requirements.
The principal designer helps the client assemble and coordinate the pre-construction information pack.
PCI should be proportionate to the project — a small refurbishment needs less detail than a major build.
Information gaps in PCI must be identified and addressed before construction work begins.
PCI feeds directly into the construction phase plan, risk assessments, and method statements.
Failing to provide adequate PCI is one of the most common CDM compliance failures identified by HSE.

Prevent incidents	Unknown hazards such as asbestos, contaminated ground, or hidden services cause serious injuries when PCI is not provided.
Legal duty	CDM 2015 Regulation 4 places a specific legal obligation on clients to provide pre-construction information.
Effective planning	Contractors need PCI to plan safe methods, allocate resources, and price work accurately. Missing information causes unsafe shortcuts.

Don't

Request pre-construction information from the client before tendering for work.
Review PCI thoroughly and identify any gaps that need further investigation.
Use PCI to inform your construction phase plan and risk assessments.
Share relevant PCI with subcontractors and designers working on the project.
Check for asbestos survey reports, ground investigation data, and service records.
Raise missing or incomplete PCI with the client or principal designer promptly.
Brief site teams on key hazards identified in the pre-construction information.
Update PCI throughout the project as new information becomes available.
Ensure PCI is available on site for reference during construction work.
Feed lessons from PCI into the health and safety file for future users.

DON'T start construction without reviewing the pre-construction information pack.
DON'T accept a project where the client refuses to provide adequate PCI.
DON'T assume no asbestos is present just because PCI does not mention it.
DON'T ignore information gaps in PCI; raise them before work begins.
DON'T keep PCI locked in the site office; share it with those who need it.
DON'T treat PCI as a one-off document; update it as the project progresses.
DON'T price a project without understanding the hazards identified in PCI.
DON'T proceed with demolition or refurbishment without an asbestos survey in PCI.
DON'T rely on verbal assurances about site conditions; insist on documented PCI.
DON'T discard PCI at project end; it forms part of the health and safety file.

See also: CDM 2015 Awareness | Construction Phase Plan Awareness

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