As Gateway 2 reimagines façade specification and project delivery on higher-risk buildings, early input from a technically capable delivery partner like Acorn Aluminium is essential to support contractors through the process.
Gateway 2 has fundamentally changed how higher-risk buildings (HRBs) are designed, specified and delivered. Implemented as part of the Building Safety Act, the checkpoint ensures that safety is designed into a building from the outset.
Moving away from retrospective box ticking, risks are considered from the very start, with technical documentation and demonstrable compliance required before construction can begin.
With early engagement between architects, contractors and specialist façade suppliers an essential element of the build process, Acorn Aluminium works alongside project teams prior to installation, helping to meet Gateway requirements and ensuring façade systems can be delivered safely and efficiently.
“Gateway 2 has been game-changing for us as a subcontractor in architectural curtain walling and windows, in terms of how we approach HRB projects,” says Paul Stevens, Managing Director, Acorn Aluminium. “Contractors need a clear picture of design intent, system performance and installation methodology before work can even start, and that means we need to be involved much earlier in the process.”
Compliance from the outset
Developers and contractors are compelled to demonstrate that safety and performance requirements are met before approval is granted. This means every façade component must be clearly defined and supported by detailed drawings, specifications and supporting evidence.
“Prior to the Building Safety Act, some façade details were resolved in the later design stages or even during construction,” explains Paul. “But under Gateway 2, the regulator expects to see clear evidence that the system has been properly considered, coordinated and documented before the project moves forward.
“It’s a ‘design then build’ approach, which means all the decisions, safety analyses, and specifications are finalised and approved before construction begins. This ensures quality, it strengthens accountability and also reduces the risk of delays and non-compliance issues.”
Early involvement
Early technical input from specialist suppliers like Acorn can help ensure documentation aligns with regulatory expectations while avoiding gaps that could delay approval.
Façade contractors must work closely with architects, contractors and consultants during the design phase to ensure systems are compliant and compatible with all the necessary elements. This means materials, structural interfaces, fire performance, thermal performance and ventilation strategies must all be coordinated and demonstrated within a single system, before work begins on site.
“We have to produce drawings and details on how we install products, and how we interface with other subcontractors,” explains Paul.
“We need to show how we’re going to apply the products to the fabric of the building, including structural calculations. We must also submit materials and data sheets to support the products that we’re proposing. Nothing is left to chance,” he adds.
As a result, façade specialists like Acorn are increasingly being brought into projects at the early design phase to provide practical insight into how systems will perform and how they will be installed.
Allowing potential conflicts to be resolved before formal submissions are made, it also enables façade suppliers to contribute to design development, product selection and technical documentation, helping ensure that the final system is fit to fulfil both regulatory obligations and the practical realities of construction.
This collaborative approach not only reduces risk but also strengthens the overall picture presented to the regulator.
Coordinating complex systems
Combining multiple materials, finishes and ventilation strategies that must be fully integrated before approval, contemporary façades are increasingly complex.
A typical façade package may incorporate glazing systems, aluminium framing, cladding panels, insulation layers, ventilation elements and architectural detailing, all working together within a single envelope.
Each component must correctly co-exist with other systems while also meeting fire safety, thermal performance and structural requirements, making early coordination essential.
“Modern façades are highly integrated systems,” says Paul. “You might be dealing with multiple materials, specialist finishes, ventilation strategies and structural interfaces.
“If those elements aren’t coordinated early, problems can quickly crop up further down the line.”
Gateway 2 requires these interfaces to be clearly understood and documented before construction begins. That means the design team must demonstrate not only what the façade will look like, but how every element fits together and performs as a whole.
Avoiding delays
Early technical collaboration also helps resolve issues before Gateway submission, preventing costly redesigns or approval delays.
“Programme certainty is a big concern for developers and contractors navigating the Gateway process,” says Paul.
“If a submission lacks detail or raises safety concerns, approval may be delayed while additional information is provided or designs are revised.”
While these delays can have significant cost implications for construction projects, early technical collaboration can help mitigate this risk, as Paul explains.
“When façade specialists, like Acorn, are involved from the start, potential issues can be identified and addressed well before Gateway submission,” he says.
“That might be refining details, confirming system compatibility or strengthening supporting documentation…”
By resolving these questions early, contractors can submit stronger Gateway applications with greater confidence that approval will be granted. This proactive approach also reduces the likelihood of design changes during construction, which can disrupt programmes and increase costs.
The result is that contractors benefit from a smoother approval process, stronger documentation and greater confidence that the façade package will meet regulatory requirements.
For duty holders under the Building Safety Act, the ultimate goal is to demonstrate that building systems are safe, compliant and properly coordinated. Engaging specialist façade contractors early in the design process helps support that objective. Through design input, system coordination and technical documentation, they can contribute valuable expertise that strengthens the Gateway submission and supports a smoother approval process.
“Our perspective at the design stage is vital to successfully pass Gateway 2,” says Paul. “Architects create the vision, but we have the knowledge and skills to help translate that vision into a real, viable and technically compliant façade system.”
For more about Acorn Aluminium, please call 0115 928 2166, email [email protected], or visit www.acornaluminium.com.