While the Building Safety Act (BSA) applies exclusively to England, Acorn Aluminium continues to uphold the same exacting standards of safety, compliance and competency across all its projects, including those outside of the Act’s jurisdiction.
The legislation has transformed how Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs) are procured, designed and delivered in England, but Acorn’s proactive approach means the company’s commitment to safer, more transparent project delivery extends nationwide.
The company’s recently secured project at India Street, Glasgow, for McAleer & Rushe, perfectly illustrates this approach. The large-scale Vita Students development utilises Metal Technology System 17 with PAS 24-compliant doors and high-performance glazing, mirroring the same technical specification, safety documentation and competency evidence that Acorn provides for projects governed by the BSA south of the border.
“Although the Building Safety Act doesn’t currently apply in Scotland, we’ve chosen to maintain the same rigorous processes,” explains Paul Stevens, Managing Director at Acorn Aluminium.
“We believe consistency builds confidence. The measures we’ve embedded for Gateway 2 compliance, including full traceability, technical documentation and installer competency checks, are good practice everywhere.”
That consistency begins at the design stage. Acorn’s in-house technical team works closely with contractors and structural engineers to create a comprehensive digital record of every system, component and interface detail.
This ‘golden thread’ approach, introduced by the BSA, is now being replicated across Acorn’s entire portfolio, regardless of geography.
“By following the same design, verification and documentation pathways on every job, we’re helping clients future-proof their projects against tightening regulations,” continues Paul.
“The principles of the Building Safety Act make sense wherever you’re building, and we see it as our responsibility to apply them.”
Delivering complex façades outside England also requires careful planning around logistics and local skillsets. To support the Glasgow project, Acorn has established a network of trusted Scottish installation partners to uphold its quality and safety benchmarks.
“Our design and manufacturing operations remain Nottinghamshire-based, but by partnering with skilled local installers, we can maintain our delivery standards nationwide,” Paul adds. “That combination of consistency and collaboration means our clients benefit from the same assurance, wherever they work.”
For Acorn, adopting a uniform approach to competency and compliance across all regions is not just about meeting today’s standards, it’s about setting tomorrows.
“The industry is moving towards greater accountability and transparency,” concludes Paul.
“We’ve built our processes to reflect that direction. Whether it’s Birmingham or Glasgow, the outcome is the same: safer buildings, delivered with confidence and compliance at their core.”
For more about Acorn Aluminium, please call 0115 928 2166, email [email protected], or visit www.acornaluminium.com.