Gateway 2 Design
The Building Safety Act 2022 introduced a new, rigorous three-gateway approval process for Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs). Gateway 2 is the crucial stage where building control approval must be secured before construction can begin.
Gateway 2 compliant designs
For developers and architects, Gateway 2 means that all life safety systems, including smoke control, must be fully designed, documented, and proven to be compliant at the planning stage.
What is Gateway 2?
Gateway 2 is the “planning application” stage for building safety. Managed by the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), it requires a comprehensive submission that demonstrates a building will be safe throughout its entire lifecycle.
For a smoke control system, this is no longer about intent; it is about proving performance in advance. You cannot proceed to construction without passing this gateway. See more on the government website and Building Safety Act.
The Gateway 2 Submission: What You Need for Smoke Control
Your submission must move from concept to certainty. The BSR will require clear, evidence-based documentation for your smoke control strategy, including:
- Detailed Design & Installation Drawings: Pre-construction drawings that specify exactly what will be installed, where, and how.
- CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) Analysis: Computer simulations that prove your smoke control system will effectively manage smoke and maintain tenable conditions in escape routes and firefighter access areas under various fire scenarios.
- Comprehensive Technical Reports: Documents that outline the design philosophy, performance criteria, and compliance with relevant standards (BS 9999, BS EN 12101, etc.).
- Commissioning & Handover Plans: A clear plan for how the system will be tested and commissioned, and the information that will be provided to the “Accountable Person” at Gateway 3 (handover).
The Consequences of Getting it Wrong
Failure to provide a robust, evidence-backed submission at Gateway 2 leads to:
- Application Rejection: The BSR will not grant permission to build, causing significant project delays.
- Costly Redesign: Rushing to create compliant documentation after a rejection is far more expensive and time-consuming than doing it right the first time.
- Legal & Financial Risk: As the “Principal Designer” and “Principal Contractor” roles now carry legal responsibility for safety, an inadequate submission carries substantial personal and corporate risk.
How Delta Smoke Control Ensures Your Gateway 2 Submission Succeeds
Our Gateway 2 support package includes:
- Expert System Design: Designs are developed in line with the relevant standards – BS9999, BS9991 and the Smoke Control Association guidance.
- Certified CFD Analysis: We partner with specialists to produce the computational fluid dynamics reports that prove your system’s performance.
- Complete Documentation Pack: We provide the detailed drawings, specifications, and technical reports required for your BSR submission.
- Collaborative Partnership: We work directly with your architects and principal designers to ensure the smoke control strategy is seamlessly integrated into the overall building design.
Don't let Gateway 2 become a roadblock
Partner with the specialist team at Delta who understands the new regulations.
Contact Us for a Gateway 2 Consultation
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