Gateway 3 checklist: the QA evidence you need for a completion certificate

Gateway 3 is the point where a higher-risk building moves from construction to occupation. Before anyone can move in, the Building Safety Regulator must be satisfied the building as built complies with the Building Regulations, and issue a completion certificate.

Applications with missing or weak evidence are a common cause of delay. The fix is simple to describe and hard to do late: collect the evidence while the work is still visible.

What Gateway 3 needs to show

• The building as built matches the approved design, or approved changes to it
• Safety-critical work was installed correctly and inspected
• Changes were controlled and recorded
• The information is organised and handed over into the golden thread

Gateway 3 QA checklist by element

Compartmentation and fire stopping

• Inspection record for each compartment wall and floor before it is closed
• A record for each penetration: location, service type, product used, installer, photo, date
• Product data and installation details matching what was used
• Evidence of installer competence

Cavity barriers and façade

• Location plan of cavity barriers per elevation and floor
• Photos of barriers installed before the cavity is closed
• Fixing inspections and product certification for the façade system

Fire doorsets

• Certification for each doorset, linked to the door schedule
• Installation inspection: gaps, hinges, closers, seals and signage

Life safety systems

• Sprinklers, dry/wet risers, smoke control, fire alarm and firefighting lifts: installation records, tests and commissioning certificates

Structure

• Pour records, test results and engineer sign-off for the frame

Golden thread information

• As-built drawings with clear revisions
• A change log showing what changed, why and who approved it
• O&M manuals and fire safety information for the accountable person

How to avoid a Gateway 3 scramble

• Start at Gateway 2. Set up Inspection and Test Plans with hold points for every safety-critical package.
• Make “no record, no cover-up” a site rule. Ceilings and linings don’t close until the inspection record exists.
• Use one system. Records spread across emails, phones and spreadsheets are hard to find later. Platforms like Field View keep each record tied to location, drawing and date.
• Close defects properly. Every NCR needs evidence of the fix, not just a tick.
• Run a gap analysis early. Reviewing evidence by element 4–6 months before completion leaves time to fix gaps while areas are still accessible.

See how this looks in practice in our sample Gateway 3 evidence gap analysis.

Who is responsible?

The client and principal contractor lead the Gateway 3 application, with input from the principal designer and every contractor whose work is safety-critical. Subcontractors are increasingly asked to supply complete evidence packs as a condition of payment. An independent QA review is a practical way to check those packs before they’re submitted.

Need QA evidence you can rely on? Construction QA sets up your records, inspects at hold points anywhere in the UK and reports monthly or on request. See sample reports or book a visit.