The Building Safety Regulator has published a case study that demonstrates some of the failures that are causing 70% of all designs to be rejected at Gateway 2 of the building control regime for higher risk buildings.

In late 2024, a newly constructed high-rise residential building was undergoing final safety inspections before occupation. Designed to meet modern safety standards, the building required thorough review by regulatory bodies, including the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) and London Fire Brigade (LFB). This review aimed to ensure that all fire safety systems, evacuation measures and firefighting provisions met the highest standards before residents moved in.

During the inspection process, BSR identified significant safety issues. The findings at a separate high-rise development undergoing review by BSR further reinforced the importance of strict regulatory oversight in ensuring compliance with the Building Safety Act 2022. An inspection by the principal fire engineer at LFB discovered critical issues across multiple fire safety systems.