What Is an F10?
An F10 notification (formally called an HSE Project Notification) is a form submitted to the Health and Safety Executive to notify them of a construction project before work begins.
It's a requirement under CDM 2015 (Construction Design and Management Regulations) and must be completed by the Principal Designer or, if there is no Principal Designer, the Client.
When Is a Project Notifiable?
A project must be notified to the HSE if the construction phase will either:
- Last longer than 30 working days AND involve more than 20 simultaneous workers at any point, OR
- Exceed 500 person-days of construction work in total
If either threshold is met, the project is classed as notifiable and the F10 must be submitted before the construction phase starts.
What Information Does the F10 Require?
The notification includes:
- Project description and site address
- Client name and contact details
- Principal Designer details
- Principal Contractor details
- Planned start and duration of construction
- Estimated maximum number of workers on site at any one time
- Planned number of contractors on site
How Do You Submit an F10?
The F10 is submitted online via the HSE's notification portal: notifications.hse.gov.uk
There is no fee. The notification should be submitted as early as possible — ideally during the design stage, and certainly before construction work begins.
What Happens After Submission?
A copy of the notification (or a summary) should be displayed on site for the duration of the project. The HSE may use the data to prioritise inspections.
Who Often Gets This Wrong?
- Clients who don't realise they have duties even if they appoint a Principal Contractor
- Principal Designers who submit late — the F10 must be in before work starts, not partway through
- Small contractors who start work on a technically notifiable project assuming it doesn't apply to them
Keep your CDM documentation in order with Site Safety UK — including pre-construction information and construction phase plans.
