InstaGroup’s Retrofit Barrier System, addressing fire remediation, has secured Gateway 2 approval from the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) for use on an existing high-risk building, clearing the regulatory checkpoint that governs higher-risk building work.
The approval gives building owners, developers, contractors and fire safety professionals increased confidence to choose a less intrusive route to fire safety remediation, that has the added benefit of significant programme and cost savings with minimal disruption to tenants.
For many years, improving a building’s fire safety performance has meant stripping the façade, exposing the structure, and rebuilding. It is slow, expensive, and disruptive for the people living there. For suitable buildings, The Retrofit Barrier System offers an innovative new route. A1 non-combustible InstaFibre 034, a recycled glass mineral wool, is injected into existing wall cavities through small external openings, filling the void that can let fire spread behind the façade. The outer leaf stays in place, and residents remain at home throughout.
Gateway 2 is the stage in the Building Safety Act regime at which the BSR must be satisfied before higher-risk building work can proceed. Securing it for The Retrofit Barrier System on existing higher-risk buildings means the approach has been assessed against the standards that govern this work. For a market that has been cautious about anything other than full façade replacement, that is a significant milestone of confidence.
“Gateway 2 is the hard stop in the remediation process, and getting there on existing higher-risk buildings is about the clearest signal we could ask for,” said Ed Andrews, Commercial Director at InstaGroup.
“Pumping material into a cavity is the easy part, but bringing an approach the regulator has approved, with the testing, the accreditation and the real-time compliance behind it, is what building owners and their fire engineers actually need.”
The Gateway 2 approval sits alongside a wider body of independent evidence. The Retrofit Barrier System holds a Kiwa BDA Agrément (BAW-21-206-S-A-UK); its A1 reaction-to-fire performance has been independently classified by Warringtonfire to the BS EN 13501 standard; Alongside nine large-scale BS 8414-2 project specific tests, assessed against BRE Report 135, together with further independent fire testing including several EN 1366-4 tests. Installation is limited to approved installers working to controlled quality procedures.
The Retrofit Barrier System has now been used on 11 remediation schemes, including Erith Park, where it was installed on around 10 blocks and more than 1,000 homes, and Waddon Road.
InstaGroup will demonstrate The Retrofit Barrier System live at London Build on 25 and 26 November 2026, on stand G84. Building owners, developers, contractors and fire safety professionals attending can discuss suitable projects with the expert team on stand.
To learn more about InstaGroup and its products and services designed to support Developers, Main Contractors and Fire Engineers, please visit www.instagroup.co.uk.
Read other recent news: https://industrial-compliance.co.uk/category/news/
