Gateway one – Pre-planning. The initial gateway phase of a higher-risk building. It involves inspection and discussion of the proposed design and safety measures to ensure that they meet the required standards. This gateway has been in place since 08/2021.

Gateway two – Pre construction Stage. Applying to all buildings, gateway two takes place before construction begins. It involves an in depth review of all construction plans, materials and safety measures. Once gateway two approval is obtained, construction can proceed. Early engagement with fischer from the design stage ensuring correct anchor specification – connection design can be produced by fischer fixperience. Reduces specification changes for gateway 2. Minor changes can be assessed at the beginning.

Changes between 2-3 can be assisted by fischer in terms of specification change. All changes should follow the change management process.
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Gateway three – before occupation. This new gateway occurs before the building can be occupied. It ensures that all safety and compliance standards have been met throughout the construction and inspection process. 

No work can commence without approval and, fundamentally, should any major change in design or construction take place, then further approval will be required as per the “Golden Thread” requirements. This has significant impact on the roles of specialist subcontractors who might produce large elements of the system design.

These gateways are designed to ensure that higher-risk buildings meet stringent safety requirements at every stage of their development and life cycle, reducing the risk of safety issues emerging after occupation. The gateways each have a statutory review period. Gateway 2 is 12 weeks and 8 weeks for Gateway 3.

It is between gateway 2 & 3 where any changes to the plans or designs in the pre-construction stage have been made they need to be captured within the golden thread. This will be done via an agreed change control process. If changes have been made, the client of the project will need to re-submit these changes, as per the Golden thread regulations before stage 3 can be passed and the unit move into occupations.

The change process can cover Major, Notifiable and recordable changes. But all changes to product or specification need to follow the below statement.

"Where an agreed document specifies use of a construction product or building element falling within a specified class, the change to another product or element falling within the same design specification is a recordable change."