In our last two Insights pieces, we have explored the requirements of Gateway 2 and how manufacturers of safety-critical building products can provide support to project teams beyond the necessity of accurate product information. For instance, sharing their knowledge and experience to give specifiers a clear sense of ‘why’ a fire compartmentation product is suitable for the designated application and the ability to justify their decisions. However, passing through Gateway 2 is only the beginning.  

Whilst Gateway 2 is designed to ensure that every detail of the construction is thoroughly planned and aligns with building regulations before any building work begins. However, to turn these safety-first plans into a reality, it is important that contracting teams have the support and resources necessary to both check and document that their installations are accurate and compliant with the specified designs and regulatory requirements, therefore allowing them to demonstrate a clear progression from Gateway 2 to completion at Gateway 3.  

Like Gateway 2, Gateway 3 is another ‘hold point’ that occurs at the end of a project, once the construction works are complete. It requires the client, principal designer, and principal contractor to submit another application to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) for a completion certificate. This application must demonstrate, with evidence, that the completed work reflects the approved plans and is therefore compliant with regulatory requirements, and that the construction has been carried out to a high standard by competent tradespersons — including signed compliance declarations from the principal designer and principal contractor confirming that they have fulfilled their duties under Part 2A of the Building Regulations.  

Guidance documents such as ‘A Guide to Managing Safety-Critical Elements in Building Construction’, developed as a joint initiative between the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) can be useful here.  This Guide not only sets out a structured approach to the design, construction, and inspection of elements that specifically include firestopping and cavity barriers, but also gives examples of how to document evidence of compliance. These can include details of: 

• Benchmark constructions, samples, or mock-ups. 

• Toolbox talks, method statements and sequencing. 

• A robust log of detailed information, incorporating any manufacturer guidance, advice, and technical communications history that reflects any onsite changes, 

• Confirmation that cavity barrier and firestop installation operatives have undertaken appropriate product and application specific training. 

• Site works inspection reports with photographs of products to demonstrate that they have been correct installed before they are ‘closed in’. 

The BSR then assesses the application and can carry out final inspections of the works. Once a project has passed through Gateway 3, it can then be registered with the BSR, the completion certificate issued, and the building deemed ready for occupation.  

In addition to the support we offer for Gateway 2 applications (as explained in our earlier Insights’ pieces on the requirements and common queries), we offer a free inspection service to verify if Siderise products are installed in accordance with our installation guidance to ensure that they will perform as expected in the event of a fire. These inspections can form an integral part of the contractor’s overarching inspection plans and help them to demonstrate due diligence.  

Our site inspections can be carried out either in-person, with periodic visits and support from our trained and experienced site services engineers or via the Siderise Inspection App that offers a straightforward photographic recording process 

This digital form of inspection is suitable for checking the installation quality of our standard passive fire protection and acoustic systems as the programme progresses. It allows users to capture images as each area / element is being installed and to update the data input fields using their smartphone or tablet. The app then immediately turns this into a comprehensive, easy-to-understand report which can be reviewed offsite by a technical team to confirm the installation meets recommendations and to quickly identify if any areas need remedial actions before the works progress further preventing errors from being built in and helping to save time and money,  whilst ensuring a consistently accurate installation across the project. 

Read our other Gateway 2 blog here: Supporting Gateway 2 applications and beyond – answering common queries | Siderise