Higher Risk Building Compliance

Higher Risk Building Gateway 2 Uncertainty

When I joined this Higher Risk Building project, the team was moving quickly through stage 3 design but no one was quite sure how we’d get through Gateway 2.

The regulations had recently changed, and the design team needed clarity and confidence that their work met the new requirements.

I was brought in to provide structure, assurance, and technical guidance on Building Regulations compliance.

Building Regulations Compliance Review

I started by getting to know the design inside out. I reviewed drawings, specifications, and technical notes to understand where we stood against the regulations. It quickly became clear that the team needed a roadmap.

They needed something to track compliance issues before they became problems. So I assembled a tracker and a structured plan that laid out every compliance activity needed for Gateway 2.

The tracker showed clearly:
✅ Responsibility allocation to the team
✅ Completed compliance activities
⚠️ Outstanding action items

Gateway 2 Compliance Tracker and Planning

As the design developed, I became a regular in design team meetings. I offered guidance, interpreted regulatory expectations, and helped the team make decisions that would hold up under scrutiny.

As a Registered Building Inspector at class 3H, I also provided Building Control advice.

I set up dedicated weekly compliance meetings where we could tackle risks early, review design outputs in detail, and keep everyone on the same page. These meetings worked through compliance element by element, building a clear path towards Gateway 2 submission.

Coordinating Specialist Reviews (Fire Engineering, Structural, CFD Modelling)

I know the limits of my own expertise, so I flagged where we needed specialist input.
Things like structural and fire engineering reviews, and appraisal of CFD modelling for mechanical smoke ventilation systems.

Each subconsultant provided their competence details, which became part of the compliance report I prepared for Gateway 2.

Proactive Building Control Advice

Through ongoing design checks and tracker management, I spotted several potential approval issues before they could escalate.

By addressing them early and working closely with architects, engineers, and the wider team, we strengthened the submission and avoided surprises later on.

Successful Gateway 2 Submission to BSR

By the time we reached Gateway 2, the team had a much clearer picture of where they stood on compliance.

The designs aligned with regulatory expectations, we’d mitigated critical risks and the project was well-prepared for approval. I helped turn compliance from a source of uncertainty into an organised, manageable process that kept the project moving forward.

My compliance report gave the BSR confidence in the steps we’d taken, supporting a much  smoother approval process.