Painting & decorating compliance software for UK contractors

Paint in older buildings (broadly pre-1992 for domestic use) can contain lead. Work that disturbs it, sanding, scraping, burning or stripping, brings duties under the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002 to assess and control exposure, and in some cases to provide information, training and monitoring. Complys keeps your lead-awareness training and assessments to hand.

Buildings from before 2000 can contain asbestos, for example in some textured coatings. Before work that may disturb asbestos-containing materials begins, the relevant asbestos information must be obtained and the risks assessed, and workers who could disturb ACMs need suitable asbestos awareness. Complys keeps asbestos-awareness training and related records.

Paints, solvents, two-pack and spray coatings (which can contain isocyanates) and dust from sanding are COSHH hazards. Exposure must be assessed and controlled, with suitable ventilation and RPE where needed. Complys stores COSHH assessments and related training against the job. COSHH checker →

Much decorating is work at height, ladders, towers and access equipment, which the Work at Height Regulations 2005 require to be planned and carried out by competent people. On construction projects you also have CDM 2015 duties to plan, manage and monitor your work. Complys holds the RAMS, inductions and records that help you evidence both. Working-at-height checker →

Not universal statutory cards, but commercial sites routinely require them as evidence of competence and for site access: a CSCS card (usually backed by an NVQ Level 2 or 3 in Painting and Decorating) and the CITB Health, Safety and Environment test. Complys tracks every card and qualification with expiry alerts.

Trade associations (PDA, BDA) and SSIP accreditations (CHAS, SMAS) are not legal requirements, but main contractors and FM companies commonly ask for them before adding you to an approved supplier list. Complys keeps these current and shareable. CHAS readiness checker →

There is no single statutory 'decorator's card'. Commercial sites typically require a CSCS card, usually backed by an NVQ Level 2 or 3 in Painting and Decorating, as evidence of competence and for site access. The PDA (Painting and Decorating Association) and BDA (British Decorators Association) offer professional membership but are not legal requirements.

Where the work could disturb them, yes. Older paint (broadly pre-1992 domestic) can contain lead, controlled under the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002. Buildings from before 2000 can contain asbestos, for example in some textured coatings, the relevant asbestos information must be obtained and risks assessed before work that may disturb it, and suitable asbestos awareness is expected. Complys tracks both training records and their renewals.

Where employers' liability insurance is required (if you have employees), the statutory minimum cover is £5m, though £10m is commonly offered. Public liability, tools/equipment and goods-in-transit cover levels depend on your work, client contracts and risk profile, many commercial sites ask for a minimum public-liability level. Complys tracks every certificate expiry.

Main contractors and FM companies require documented compliance before adding decorators to approved supplier lists. Complys consolidates your insurance, RAMS, lead/asbestos awareness, CSCS cards and training records into one shareable profile that demonstrates professional compliance at a glance.