The Building Safety Regulator has published a practical seven-point checklist to help high-rise remediation applications move through building control more efficiently. The guidance is aimed at clients, accountable persons, designers, contractors, fire engineers, façade specialists, structural engineers and other advisers working on existing higher-risk buildings. Its central message is simple: applications are more likely to progress smoothly when the design is construction-ready, the evidence is coordinated and the route to compliance is clearly explained.
The new checklist is a positive step for remediation teams. It gives applicants a clearer picture of what the regulator expects before submission and could reduce avoidable requests for more information.
Jump to: Why applications are delayed | The seven checks | What it means on site | LCM analysis | FAQ
Why Remediation Applications Become Delayed
Remediation applications can contain hundreds of drawings, reports, calculations and specifications. However, submitting a large number of documents does not automatically prove that the proposed work complies with the Building Regulations. The BSR says assessors should not have to work out the compliance strategy by joining together disconnected documents. Applications should clearly explain the existing condition, the risks found, the proposed solution and the evidence supporting it.
Common problems include concept-level designs, missing façade details, unsupported assumptions, conflicting reports and important decisions being left until after a contractor is appointed. These issues are similar to the wider submission problems examined in LCM’s analysis of why Gateway 2 applications delay London high-rise projects.
The Seven Checks Remediation Teams Should Complete
| BSR Check | What the Project Team Must Show |
|---|---|
| 1. Construction-ready design | The design is developed far enough to be assessed and is not relying on major details being completed later. |
| 2. Clear route to compliance | The application explains which requirements apply and how the design meets them. |
| 3. Evidence for claims | Technical conclusions and assumptions are supported by calculations, assessments or other suitable evidence. |
| 4. External wall coordination | Fire, structure, moisture, thermal performance, guarding and system interfaces have all been considered together. |
| 5. PAS 9980 alignment | The assessment reflects the current proposal and its findings have been turned into clear design actions. |
| 6. Coordinated documents | Drawings, reports and specifications agree with each other and old revisions have been removed. |
| 7. Construction controls | Inspection points, verification, design changes and safety information will be controlled during and after construction. |
Construction-Ready Means More Than a General Design
One of the clearest points in the guidance is that remediation applications should not remain at concept or scheme stage. The external wall build-up should be defined. Materials, insulation, membranes, cavity barriers, rails, brackets and fixings should be identified. Structural capacity, wind loading, waterproofing and important interfaces should also be addressed.
Statements such as “final details will be confirmed after contractor appointment” are unlikely to give the regulator enough information to complete its assessment. LCM’s wider BSR and Gateway guidance hub explains how design readiness, evidence and regulatory approval now affect construction programmes across higher-risk building projects.
PAS 9980 Is Not Proof of Building Regulations Compliance
The checklist also clarifies how PAS 9980 assessments should be used. A PAS 9980 assessment may help explain the fire risk and support the decision to remediate, but it does not prove that the proposed new design complies with the Building Regulations. The assessment should match the current remediation proposal. Any risks it identifies should be turned into clear design responses and coordinated with the fire strategy, façade design, structural information and other technical evidence.
What the Checklist Means for Contractors on Site
The checklist is not only for designers preparing the application. It also affects how the approved work will be delivered on site. The project team should explain how safety-critical work will be inspected, tested and recorded. Hold points should be clear, design changes should be controlled and evidence should be captured as work progresses.
That evidence may include installation records, inspection sheets, photographs, test results, product information and approved design revisions. These records will form part of the building’s Golden Thread. The practical use of this information is examined further in LCM’s guide to Golden Thread systems in London construction.
A good application should explain not only what will be built, but how the work will be checked and how the project will prove that the approved design was delivered correctly.
LCM Analysis: A Helpful Move From the Regulator
The checklist is a useful and constructive move from the BSR. It turns broad regulatory expectations into a clearer set of checks that project teams can use before pressing submit. It should also help clients understand that an early application is not always a fast application. Sending an incomplete design may protect an internal target date, but it can create more questions and a longer assessment later.
The strongest remediation teams will use the checklist early, not during the final week before submission. Fire, façade, structure, moisture, thermal performance and construction controls need to be coordinated while the design is still being developed. The checklist cannot guarantee approval or remove every delay. However, it gives the industry a more practical route towards complete applications and could help important safety work reach site sooner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should use the BSR remediation checklist?
It is intended for clients, accountable persons, designers, contractors, fire engineers, façade specialists, structural engineers and other advisers preparing remediation applications.
It is intended for clients, accountable persons, designers, contractors, fire engineers, façade specialists, structural engineers and other advisers preparing remediation applications.
Does the checklist introduce new legal requirements?
No. It helps applicants understand the information normally needed to demonstrate compliance, but it does not replace the Building Regulations or professional advice.
No. It helps applicants understand the information normally needed to demonstrate compliance, but it does not replace the Building Regulations or professional advice.
Can the final design be completed after approval?
Important parts of the design should not be left unresolved. The regulator expects enough construction-level information to assess the proposed work properly.
Important parts of the design should not be left unresolved. The regulator expects enough construction-level information to assess the proposed work properly.
Does a PAS 9980 assessment prove compliance?
No. It can support remediation decisions, but the proposed design must still demonstrate compliance with the applicable Building Regulations.
No. It can support remediation decisions, but the proposed design must still demonstrate compliance with the applicable Building Regulations.
Source and methodology: This London Construction Magazine article is based on the Building Safety Regulator’s remediation pre-submission checklist for existing higher-risk buildings. The guidance has been summarised in practical language for construction professionals and does not replace the original regulatory material or competent professional advice.
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Expert Verification & Authorship: Mihai Chelmus
Founder, London Construction Magazine | Construction Testing & Investigation Specialist |
