The Building Safety Act redefines how Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs) are procured, designed, and delivered. Acorn Aluminium is demonstrating its ability to fully align with these new requirements and maintain its vital role in the competent delivery of HRB work.
Developed in response to 2017’s Grenfell Tower fire tragedy, the Building Safety Act of 2022 underscores the construction industry’s obligation to safeguard life, especially in Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs) of 7 storeys, or 18m, and above.
With serious lessons to be learned from Grenfell, the Act puts the focus on safety from the word go, with the concept of the ‘golden thread’, a continuous and accessible digital record of design, construction and maintenance information, at its core.
Accountability is required at every point, from every party involved, throughout a building’s lifecycle. To achieve this, mandatory checkpoints at key stages of project development, known as Gateways, have been introduced. Demanding that exacting safety standards are met prior to construction, Gateway 2 applies to HRBs and requires approval from the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) before spades hit the ground.
“The Building Safety Act is affecting construction massively – but for the right reasons,” says Paul Stevens, Managing Director at Acorn Aluminium.
“What Gateway 2 means for a company like ours is that we’re involved in a team, including architects, main contractors, subcontractors, and the supply chain in general. This team is assembled to demonstrate how a building is going to be built, why it’s going to be built, and how it’s going to keep the occupants safe,” he adds.
Responding swiftly to the new regulations, Acorn is implementing robust processes to meet and exceed Gateway 2 criteria and uphold the golden thread. These include the submission of comprehensive technical documentation such as structural calculations, materials data sheets, installation drawings, and product specifications. These detailed packs form the safety foundations required to proceed, not only through Gateway 2 but also on to Gateway 3, which occurs after a building’s completion but before occupation.
Following a new mantra of ‘design then build’, the traditional ‘design and build’ legacy, where both phases evolve simultaneously during construction, is no longer a viable model. Acorn has embraced the new, ‘design then build’ approach, ensuring that all critical design decisions, safety analyses, and specifications are finalised and approved before construction begins. This ensures quality, accountability, and reduces the risk of costly delays and non-compliance.
“What this means for a company like us, as a subcontractor in architectural curtain walling and windows, is that we have to produce drawings, details on how we install products, and how we interface with other subcontractors,” continues Paul.
“We need to show how we’re going to apply the products to the fabric of the building, and that includes structural calculations, which are done by structural engineers. We have to submit materials and data sheets to support the products that we’re proposing. We don’t leave anything to chance,” he adds.
With failure to meet Gateway 2 requirements equating to project delays, wasted opportunities and potential financial losses, Acorn has taken a proactive stance. Guided by the Joint Competency Initiative (JCI), the company is demonstrating its competence to maintain its role in HRB work, using JCI white papers to ensure high-quality, defensible submissions at Gateway 2 and eventually, Gateway 3. Investment in its people also plays a big role, with site staff trained to NVQ Level 6 and SMSTS to help ensure competence and compliance.
“Compliance is more than a tick-box exercise for us, especially when it comes to the competent delivery of HRBs,” concludes Paul. “Ultimately, it’s about accountability for our role in protecting human life and providing safer buildings from the ground up, and that’s something we take extremely seriously.”
For more about Acorn Aluminium, please call 0115 928 2166, email [email protected], or visit www.acornaluminium.com.