Under The Building Safety Act, Gateway 2 approval is a critical step in ensuring that projects meet stringent safety and compliance requirements before construction begins. One of the key factors in achieving a smooth Gateway 2 submission is early design engagement, particularly in substructure waterproofing and protection. By involving specialists at the earliest stages, developers, architects and engineers can avoid costly delays, reduce risk, and ensure full regulatory compliance.
The Benefits of Involving Substructure Specialists Early (RIBA Stages 2 and 3)
1. Enhanced Design Accuracy
Why it matters: Substructure specialists bring a deep understanding of below-ground structures, soil conditions, and water management.
Benefit: This expertise ensures that the waterproofing design is robust, code-compliant, and prevents costly modifications later.
2. Improved Risk Management
Why it matters: Unidentified risks, such as groundwater ingress, structural movement, or gas exposure, can jeopardize compliance.
Benefit: Early risk assessments help mitigate potential failures, safeguarding long-term performance.
3. Cost Efficiency
Why it matters: Value-engineered solutions in waterproofing and gas protection can optimize both material use and installation methods.
Benefit: A cost-effective, compliant design from the outset prevents budget overruns and expensive rework.
The Power of Early Coordination Among Stakeholders
A lack of alignment between designers, contractors and suppliers can cause significant project delays and compliance challenges. Here's why early coordination is essential:
1. Streamlined Communication
Why it matters: Early collaboration ensures that all stakeholders - architects engineers and contractors - are aligned with the project goals.
Benefit: Prevents miscommunication and rework, leading to a smoother approval process.
2. Reduced Delays in the Gateway 2 Process
Why it matters: Misaligned expectations and late-stage design changes can create compliance bottlenecks.
Benefit: Proactive issue resolution keeps projects on schedule and avoids last-minute design conflicts.
3. Enhanced Quality Control
Why it matters: Ensuring quality standards from the start prevents non-compliance issues from surfacing later
Benefit: Results in a durable, long-lasting structure with reduced risk of failures
How Premcrete Supports Compliance with Full Design Liability
Premcrete provides a full design liability service, ensuring that substructure waterproofing and gas protection designs meet the highest standards, covered by our ยฃ10 Million professional indemnity insurance.
1. Clear Accountability
Benefit: With a single point of responsibility, Premcrete reduces risk and simplifies issue resolution
2.Quality Assurance
Benefit: Our expertise ensures you are working with CSSW (Certified Surveyor of Structural Waterproofing) accredited designers working in compliance with BS 8102:2022 and other regulatory standards.
3. Compliance Confidence
Why it matters: Unverified or incomplete designs can lead to Gateway 2 rejection.
Benefit: By working with Premcrete, developers can confidently submit fully compliant designs with minimal risk, knowing they are working with a specialist who has been involved in nearly 40 Gateway 2 submissions for new build High risk Buildings between April 2024 and February 2025.
Premcreteโs Wrap-Around Support with Prem360
Premcreteโs Prem360 approach offers a turnkey solution for ensuring compliance from concept to completion.
1. Early Design Support
Why it matters: High-level strategy drawings and specification reviews at RIBA Stages 2 and 3 ensure alignment before tendering.Benefit: Reduces inconsistencies between contractors and minimizes risk of non-compliance
2. Detailed Project Specific Design
Why it matters: Ambiguity around design responsibility increases the risk should a defect or design issue ever occur. Often things can fall through the gap between the architects and structural engineers responsibilities
Benefit: Premcreteโs CSSW compliant in-house design team have ยฃ10m Professional Indemnity insurance (double the industry norms) for waterproofing and gas protection design liability.
3. Comprehensive Training and Onsite Support
Why it matters: Incorrect installation can compromise compliance, leading to failures.
Benefit: Prem360 provides hands-on training and support to ensure systems are installed correctly, reducing post-construction risks.
4. Single-Source Warranty
- Why it matters: Uncoordinated warranties from multiple suppliers create compliance challenges.
- Benefit: Premcreteโs single-source 25-year warranty simplifies liability and provides complete peace of mind.
Conclusion: Avoid Delays - Engage Early
Early engagement in waterproofing and substructure design is no longer optional...
โit is essential for Gateway 2 compliance. By integrating specialists early, coordinating with all stakeholders, and leveraging full design liability services like those offered by Premcrete, developers can avoid costly delays, enhance project quality, and ensure a seamless approval process.
To learn more about how Premcrete can support your Gateway 2 submission, visit our structural waterproofing solutions page or contact our team today.
