New guidance notes issued for new HRB building control approval applications

The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has published new building safety guidance for higher-risk buildings (HRBs) to support Gateway 2 and Gateway 3 applications

Developed in partnership with the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) and wider industry stakeholders, two new guidance notes have been issued for building control approval applications for new HRBs: the Fire and Emergency File (FEF) and the Building Regulations Compliance Statement (BRCS).

As CLC explains, the FEF is submitted at Gateway 2 as an accompanying document as part of the building control approval application and is used to demonstrate how building safety risks relating to fire safety and structural safety have been considered, how compliance with the Building Regulations 2010 has been achieved, and how the completed building is intended to be safely managed and maintained.

The BRCS provides a detailed explanation of the approach taken for each design element of the building to ensure compliance with all applicable building regulations. It provides the reasons for choosing specific design solutions, explains why they are appropriate for the project, and includes clear references to the specific Approved Documents, British Standards, and other design codes used. Also included in the statement is the scope of compliance for essential areas, such as structural integrity, fire safety, materials, energy performance, and accessibility. 

As CLC explains, both guidance notes offer useful information on the preparation, content, and management of the key accompanying documents for an HRB building control approval (Gateway 2) application and subsequent approved documents for an HRB completion certificate (Gateway 3) application.

“Feedback from the BSR confirms that the quality of both the FEF and BRCS, whilst improving, is a cause of rejections of some applications. It is key that these documents clearly narrate the design and technical approach taken by applicants and fully evidence their assessment of risk, especially in relation to fire and structure.”

In a post on LinkedIn, CEO and Co-Founder of Totus Digital, Aman Sharma, said: “As the principal author for the Fire & Emergency File section, I'm very keen to hear constructive industry feedback on this latest tranche, including how best we can keep the guidance fit for purpose as industry practices evolve.”

An example of the structure and content of the FEH and a sample extract of the BRCS have also been included in the update. CLC adds that the guidance notes should be read in conjunction with other guidance published by CLC.

You can access the full guidance suite on Building Control for a new Higher-Risk Building here.