EDITOR’ S CHOICE
Aluprof UK has been supporting specifiers in the UK and Ireland for over fifteen years with advanced systems that include highperformance windows, doors, and facade systems.
UK-based facade specialists, Century Facades, in conjunction with the team at Aluprof UK, have recently confirmed that the Gateway 2 application for the Devonshire Place project in London is complete. The validation checks have recently been conducted and the application has been determined to be valid, however, the final decision will be made within the statutory timelines unless an extension of time is agreed. Marcin Bara, Design Director at Century Facades takes up the story: rejected 25 applications, while the status of the remaining 847 applications was not specified. These delays have been attributed to several factors, including an unexpected surge in applications, a high number of incomplete or unclear submissions, and resource constraints within the BSR. Developers have expressed concerns that these bottlenecks are hindering essential housing projects, including student accommodations and build-to-rent homes.
The BSR has acknowledged these challenges and is working to stabilise and improve the building control approval process for higher-risk buildings. They emphasise the importance of submitting clear and comprehensive applications to facilitate quicker decision-making and reduce delays. It seems there is still some confusion over the process with contractors and developers.
“ In the context of UK construction industry, Gateway 2 focuses on ensuring compliance with the functional requirements of the Building Regulations and forms a“ hold point” between the design and construction phases. It is crucial for a facade specialist contractor to work closely with the facade system supplier and vice versa to align on design intricacies, material specifications, and safety requirements. This collaboration must be based on trust and true partnership as only this ensures that the facade would not only meet aesthetic criteria but also adheres to performance and safety standards mandated by current Building Regulations via Gateway processes.
“ Effective communication and coordination between the contractor and supplier help in identifying potential issues early, optimising resource use, and ensuring the facade system contributes to the building’ s overall compliance, sustainability, and safety objectives. This is where key partners such as Aluprof can work as an extension arm to our competent and fully qualified in-house Design and Engineering Teams to ensure the application produced for Gateway 2 is of the highest possible standards.
“ It is crucial for the system supplier to offer tailored approach to this new approval regime, so that their offer and service provided is project specific and matches our requirements as a specialist facade contractor fully. This is where our close partners such as Aluprof can play a key role in producing quality submissions, meeting expectations of our Clients entirely.”
In short, Gateway 2 compliance is about proving to the Building Safety Regulator that the design of a higher-risk building meets all safety requirements before work starts on site. It is part of a much stricter regulatory process introduced after the Grenfell Tower disaster, aiming to raise standards and accountability across the construction sector.
Aluprof UK has been supporting specifiers in the UK and Ireland for over fifteen years with advanced systems that include high-performance windows, doors, and facade systems. Many UK and Irelandbased fabricators and installers supply these systems and are on hand to offer surveys and cost analysis as to what improvements can be made with likely paybacks. Further information about systems and specification support is available through the company website at aluprof. co. uk or direct from their UK head office in Altrincham by phoning + 44( 0) 161 941 4005.
www. aluprof. co. uk
Between October 1, 2023, and September 16, 2024, the Building Safety Regulator( BSR) reported that they had received 1,018 Gateway 2 applications. Of these, only 146 were approved, equating to an approval rate of approximately 14 %. The BSR
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