Cracking Gateway 2: Your Pre-Construction Safety Handbook

                                

For construction professionals undertaking new projects, especially those involving High-Risk Buildings (HRBs), it is essential to thoroughly address a pivotal preparatory stage: Gateway 2. This stage constitutes the pre-construction safety framework, ensuring that the project is not only secure but also poised for successful execution. The following provides a comprehensive outline of the requirements and expectations associated with Gateway 2. 

Understanding Gateway 2

Gateway 2 occurs prior to the commencement of construction. Its primary objective is to ensure that all building safety risks have been comprehensively addressed during the design phase. This stage provides an opportunity to demonstrate that your building is not merely conceptual but a safe, regulation-compliant construct ready for development.

The Essential Component: The Building Control Application

Before construction can proceed, you must submit a Building Control Application to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR). This document is a detailed submission that outlines how safety risks have been managed and verifies that your design adheres to all regulatory requirements.

Required Components of the Building Control Application

To ensure compliance, your Building Control Application must include the following elements:

• Competence Declaration: This serves as a verification of your team’s qualifications. The client must endorse this declaration, affirming that they have verified the competence of the Principal Contractor (PC) and Principal Designer (PD). It is akin to ensuring that all team members possess the requisite credentials before beginning the project.
• Building Regulations Compliance Statement: This document provides a comprehensive account of your design approach, references all relevant documents, and illustrates how you are meeting safety regulations. The Regulator requires this statement to be clear, coherent, and devoid of ambiguities.
• Designer Competence Checks: The PD must oversee the designers to ensure their competency and adherence to safety regulations. This process is essential for maintaining a thorough audit trail.
• Fire and Emergency File (FEF): This file is critical for fire safety management, containing fire strategy documents, details on fire systems, wall construction, product fire ratings, and as-built drawings. Initially prepared by the client and subsequently updated by the PC and PD, the FEF will eventually be transferred to the Principal Accountable Person upon project completion.
• Construction Control Plan (CCP): The CCP outlines the procedures for maintaining compliance with building regulations during construction. It includes aspects of cooperation, communication, and competence within the design team, and must demonstrate robust management and oversight.
• Change Control Plan: Recognizing that changes are inevitable, this plan details how modifications will be managed throughout construction. It must be clearly documented and submitted to the Regulator as part of Gateway 2 to ensure transparent handling of any project adjustments.
• Mandatory Occurrence Reporting Plan (MOR): Should any issues arise—such as structural or fire safety concerns during the design or construction phases—they must be reported. The PC and PD are responsible for this reporting, with the client ensuring that these responsibilities are effectively managed.
• Full Plans: All final, complete design plans must be included, providing the Regulator with the detailed blueprint required to assess project readiness.
• Details of Key Personnel: The application must also include comprehensive details of the client, PC, and PD. The Regulator requires this information to understand the project’s key stakeholders.

Next Steps

Upon compiling these components, submit your application to the BSR for review. Construction cannot commence until you receive formal approval from the Regulator.

Make sure that the application is as detailed as possible. 

Who to contact? 

If you're feeling overwhelmed by all the requirements for Gateway 2? Don’t worry - Tennyson Suite is here to help. With their expert knowledge of building regulations and safety compliance, they can guide you through every step of the process. From preparing your Building Control Application to ensuring your project meets all the necessary safety standards, their team is ready to make your life easier.

Reach out to Tennyson Suite today, and let’s get your project off the ground with confidence and peace of mind!

Tennyson Suite - Health and Safety Consultants - CDM Consultants, Principal Designers, Health and Safety (tennyson-suite.co.uk)