Discover key insights from our recent BSR Gateway 2 application, including required documents, compliance strategies and best practices to streamline the process.
Having recently received a BSR Gateway 2 approval, we realised that by sharing the experiences and insights we gained during the process, we could be of valuable assistance to anyone who might be submitting an application.
This task can seem to be quite daunting, especially if you’re doing it for the first time, but we hope that the following hints and tips will streamline the process for you.
What is the BSR & Why Does Approval Matter?
The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) is a crucial body established to oversee the safety and performance of buildings across the UK. Its role is to ensure that buildings meet stringent safety standards, particularly in response to past regulatory shortcomings that have led to significant incidents. For those in the construction sector, obtaining BSR Gateway 2 approval is not just a legal requirement – it is an essential step in demonstrating commitment to safety, compliance and best practice.
As a company committed to high standards, we recently submitted a BSR Gateway 2 application. Through this process, we gained valuable insights that we believe will benefit others navigating the same journey.
Key Learnings from Our Application Process
Through our experience, we identified several crucial factors that can streamline the application process and improve the chances of a smooth approval.
1. Don’t Skimp on Details
The level of detail required is equivalent to what was previously needed for building control approval before the gateway process was introduced. We found the following detail was needed:
- Design developed to a stage 4 level of detail plus the following items
- Specified products & test data where the performance is important to meet regulations.
- Detailed structural calculations
2. Tell the Story of Compliance
The BSR expects a clear and structured explanation of how the project meets building regulations. Instead of submitting a bulk of documents and expecting the regulator to interpret them, we recommend:
- Provide a thorough Building Regulations Compliance Statement which clearly demonstrates compliance with each of the regulations.
- Provide specific additional reports and calculations to back up the compliance against that regulation.
- Take ownership of compliance. Don’t just include a calculation report, explain why it demonstrates compliance.
3. Use Signposting Effectively
Including too much detail can be confusing for the BSR, especially as they have no prior knowledge of the project. If a document is not required to demonstrate building control compliance, then don’t include it. To make your application easier to navigate:
- Include a detailed index to help regulators locate key information quickly.
- Provide a marked-up drawing that includes a scope of works with a clear breakdown of the project.
- Ensure supporting documents are well-labelled and referenced within the submission.
4. Include all the specified documents!
The regulations require specific named documents, and omitting or misnaming them will result in immediate queries or rejection! We recommend creating a checklist from the regulations themselves and including this within the application to demonstrate all the items are included and where they are located. Some of the key documents are:
- Building Regulations Compliance Statement
- Construction Control Plan
- Competency Declaration
- Mandatory Occurrence Reporting Plan
- Change Control Plan
Timescale for Approval
The timescale for approval can vary significantly with the BSR often requesting extensions. Our approval took 8 months, and across our applications we have found that the BSR work through the below typical process:
- Validation
- Case Officer Assigned
- Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) appointed including RBI
- Detailed Review of application by RBI & other MDT members
- Queries issued & resolved
- Local Fire Authority Consultation (3 weeks)
- Final Queries resolved
- Approval!
Final Thoughts
Navigating the BSR application process requires diligence, organisation and a thorough understanding of regulatory requirements. By incorporating detailed information, structuring submissions effectively and ensuring clear signposting, you will streamline the process and avoid unnecessary delays. Our experience has also reinforced the importance of being proactive and meticulous – key qualities that ensure a successful application and, ultimately, a safer built environment.
