June 14, 2025, marks eight years since the Grenfell Tower fire. While the day may pass like any other Saturday for some, for survivors, those bereaved, and many across the construction industry, it is a stark and painful reminder of the need for change.
From that tragic night to today, and into the years to come, the construction industry has a moral responsibility to the 72 lives lost, the wider Grenfell community, and all residents of high-rise buildings to prioritise fire safety.
The Grenfell Tower fire, along with other incidents like the Lakanal House fire, resulted from years of shortcuts and gaps in regulation.
Leading up to June 14, 2017, fire safety was regarded as a smaller-value package. This meant that firestopping was typically not considered until the MEP systems were installed.
Since it wasn’t as regulated as it is now, this allowed for some non-compliance in the installations.
New legislation following the fire requires fire safety to be a priority at Gateway 2, the first checkpoint for high-rise buildings.
From Design ‘And’ Build to Design ‘Then’ Build
Today, the ‘design and build’ approach is under pressure. Firestopping is increasingly recognised as a specialist trade. And rightly so.
Many firestopping contractors emphasise that today’s industry demands millimetre precision and the correct depth and quantities of materials, supported by test evidence and manufacturer guidance.
Companies throughout the supply chain are leaning into the new ‘design then build’ model. This means collaborating with other key stakeholders to establish a compliant design, before even considering construction or their Gateway 2 submission.
And this is a step in the right direction. It’s great progress. But it is also exposing the growing pains across the industry as contractors adjust to their new responsibilities and stricter regulations under the Building Safety Act (BSA).
The Building Safety Regulator: Delays
A quick breakdown. The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) was established in October 2023 under the Building Safety Act 2022, which was a direct response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
The BSR’s role is to regulate higher-risk buildings (HRBs) by assessing plans and granting permission to build if they meet the requirements of Gateway 2.
Its importance is significant in restoring public trust in fire safety standards, and helping professionals within the construction industry to improve their competency.
Today’s definition of a HRB in England is a structure that,
(a) is at least 18 metres in height or has at least seven storeys, and
(b) contains at least two residential units.
Currently, the construction sector is experiencing extreme delays averaging four months, as opposed to the initial 12-week wait.
These delays impact project schedules, financing, and overall timelines. And the industry is growing restless.
Contractors have raised concerns that the submission process is a grey area due to the lack of clear guidance on what is required for a successful application.
Though Tim Galloway, BSR Deputy Head, cautioned during Resibuild’s BSR Gateway 2 panel discussion that templates could encourage an ‘if it’s not on the list, it doesn’t matter’ mindset.
Back in April 2025, Galloway stated that 75% of applications are still being rejected due to ‘missing’ or ‘flawed’ information.
He argued that the lack of design expertise is contributing to Gateway 2 delays. Submissions are missing key information, often of a ‘basic’ level, including workings to show how expectations would be met.
Preparing for Gateway 2
Cultural change is never a quick solution; it requires time, resources, and a huge shift in mindset.
The BSA aims to create meaningful and lasting change across the sector, which will naturally take time before all i’s are dotted, and t’s crossed.
While delays at Gateway 2 can be frustrating, they highlight the importance of taking the time before submission. This offers the time to stop and evaluate that every key decision prioritises life safety.
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Early engagement in firestopping
It always starts with early engagement. Ultimately, the BSA exists to create safer buildings and to protect people from the real threat of fire.
Bringing firestopping into the project’s design stage and working with the manufacturer ensures that every service penetration has a tested detail alongside it. And makes sure they are coordinated with architectural, structural, and services layouts.
Earlier firestopping engagement ensures the building is designed and then built around tested systems, which, in turn, demonstrates the project team’s competence in relation to the seriousness of fire safety.
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Better collaboration
Construction is a team exercise. Only by working in collaboration across design, construction, and client teams can projects achieve ultimate building compliance.
What can be overlooked is the impact each party has on the next. Therefore, getting it right the first time around relies on partnerships that share information and work to understand what is needed at the design stage before build commences.
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Improving documentation and digital record keeping
At Gateway 2 and Gateway 3, the BSR will assess the Golden Thread of Information as part of the approval process. This is a digital record of a building’s lifecycle, from design to ongoing management.
The correct documentation shows how compliance has been achieved. It also closes information gaps and highlights that roles and responsibilities are understood, thereby speeding up the BSR approval process.
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Compliance and ongoing training
Finally, ongoing training demonstrates that fire safety has been designed into the building, as well as into the culture and processes of the wider project team.
It’s a great way to stay up to date with regulations and best practices, while ensuring that everyone is aligned.
Ultimately, the BSR was established to prevent tragedies like the Grenfell Tower fire from happening again. But it must never be a footnote. The industry has now been given a real opportunity to lead the way in safer construction, putting the end user first.
Recent reports have revealed that while some companies are already adapting, others risk falling behind. But with the BSA here to stay, now is the time to anticipate these changes and remember that these buildings are people’s homes.
On the eighth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire, we pay our respects to the 72 lives lost, the survivors, and those affected by the tragedy. We continue to do our part to protect people and property.
Other Sources:
Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. (2023). Building Control Authority booklet 3. https://buildingsafety.campaign.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/157/2023/09/23_039-Building-Control-Authority-Booklet-3.pdf
Health and Safety Executive. (n.d.). Building Safety Regulator. https://www.hse.gov.uk/building-safety/regulator.htm
UK Government. (n.d.). Criteria for being a higher-risk building during the occupation phase of the new higher-risk regime. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/criteria-for-being-a-higher-risk-building-during-the-occupation-phase-of-the-new-higher-risk-regime
The Construction Index. (2025, June 2). BSR delays expected to trigger wave of litigation. https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/bsr-delays-expected-to-trigger-wave-of-litigation#:~:text=The%20BSR%20says%20that%20gateway,unviable%20and%20investors%20pulling%20out
Housing Today. (2025, June 10). Building Safety Regulator deputy head admits to underestimating challenge of new regime for industry. https://www.housingtoday.co.uk/news/building-safety-regulator-deputy-head-admits-to-underestimating-challenge-of-new-regime-for-industry/5135661.article
This article was written by Rebecca Croton
Content Marketing Executive
Sharing practices and knowledge from her studies and the responsibilities that come with creating content in the passive fire industry.
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