On the morning of the 13th of February, representatives from Sapphire Balconies attended the Houses of Parliament alongside Resibuild Events and David Jones (The Institute of Construction Management) to present outputs from the BSR roundtable series organised by Resibuild in late 2023.

These discussions focused on fire safety and the new Gateway regime. At meetings held in Portcullis House and the Palace of Westminster, Sapphire shared key findings now available for wider dissemination.

What are the delays to BSR Gateway 2?
Sapphire’s first key finding identified ongoing uncertainty around submission requirements as the primary cause of delays at Gateway 2 within the new regulatory framework. This uncertainty is causing approvals to stall, leading to a notable reduction in new Higher Risk Residential Buildings (HRRBs) breaking ground. HRRBs are defined as buildings with at least 7 storeys or 18 metres in height and a minimum of 2 residential units.

These buildings represent a major sector within the construction industry and are typically where balcony packages are most frequently implemented. As a leading UK balcony manufacturer and supplier, Sapphire Balconies has proactively taken all available steps to enhance balcony safety and support Gateway 2 compliance from a balcony-specific perspective.

Through its Product Passport system, Sapphire enforces rigorous quality controls for both manufacturing and installation, reinforcing its commitment to managing the full lifecycle of a balcony system as a dependable partner.

Sapphire views the balcony and its concealed supports as a single integrated system. Balconies are fully prefabricated offsite, while anchors are prepared for concrete casting or post-fixing to various building frames. This ‘buck stops here’ approach reflects Sapphire’s willingness to assume full accountability for the complete balcony process and showcases its credentials as a ‘safe pair of hands.’

Why has laminate glass been banned on balconies?
The second key finding relates to the continued exclusion of laminated glass from the exemption list of the combustible cladding ban. Despite extensive research commissioned by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG), laminated glass remains unapproved for balcony use more than six years after the ban was introduced.

The ban followed the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire, where 72 people lost their lives. Subsequent amendments to The Building Regulations 2010 aimed to restrict the use of combustible materials on external walls.

There is broad industry consensus in favour of granting laminated glass an exemption under Approved Document B. The current inconsistency—where windows (which offer no fall protection) are exempt, but laminated glass used in balcony balustrades (which do provide fall protection) is not—highlights an anomaly in the regulations.

Granting an exemption would simplify Gateway 2 compliance by allowing developers and architects to specify laminated glass without the need for additional fire engineering assessments. This change could help streamline projects, reduce delays and costs, and ease the Gateway 2 bottleneck while upholding high safety standards.

How can SME investment in fire safety be protected?
The final key finding highlights that the construction sector is already making substantial investments in areas such as product testing, competency verification, system development, and third-party certifications. Nonetheless, concerns remain regarding the potential threat posed by low-cost international alternatives that may not meet UK safety standards.

Sapphire Balconies has taken a firm stance on ensuring fire safety is both accessible and simplified through innovation. Its StubGuard® fire-stopping solution is a testament to this, offering a streamlined and effective method of meeting safety requirements.

Navigating the new Building Safety Regulator regime can be tricky, so expert guidance is fundamental. Their whitepaper covers the navigation of Gateway 2, clarity on regulation definitions, fire safety innovation and digital tools.

For more information on Gateway 2 and current constraints around the new Building Safety Regulator, read the whitepaper Sapphire delivered to Parliament.

Get in Touch
Contact Sapphire Balconies with project details via the online enquiry form.