{"id":528635,"date":"2025-09-25T07:00:34","date_gmt":"2025-09-25T06:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/?p=528635"},"modified":"2025-09-24T08:28:57","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T07:28:57","slug":"from-gateway-to-delivery-how-digital-approaches-are-redefining-firestopping-strategies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/sponsored\/from-gateway-to-delivery-how-digital-approaches-are-redefining-firestopping-strategies-25-09-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"From gateway to delivery: How digital approaches are redefining firestopping strategies"},"content":{"rendered":"

WSP\u2019s Johnathan Munkley shares how digitally driven processes are transforming firestopping compliance<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Delays stemming from poor coordination, missing documentation or unclear responsibilities can derail project timelines by weeks or even months in some cases. In fact, industry reports estimate that rework accounts for up to 30 per cent of construction costs in the UK, showcasing the magnitude of inefficiency affecting the built environment.<\/p>\n

This challenge has been further amplified by the Building Safety Act 2022, which enforces a rigorous building control regime for higher-risk buildings. This requires dutyholders to meet specific requirements to progress between three gateways, ensuring compliance from planning all the way through to completion.<\/p>\n

WSP\u2019s Head of Digital Services Johnathan Munkley says: \u201cMany projects continue to operate with siloed data, manual processes and reactive fixes applied late in the project\u2019s timeline. This fragmented approach not only causes unexpected delays but also heightens the level of risk borne by contractors.\u201d<\/p>\n

As WSP\u2019s Expect Different playbook<\/a> highlights, digital tools are essential to overcoming this, enabling teams to streamline processes, centralise data and embed fire safety from the outset.<\/p>\n

Digital\u2019s new role in safety<\/h3>\n

Building Information Modelling (BIM) isn\u2019t new to the construction industry, but its role is evolving. Its capabilities have expanded beyond visualising spaces; it is now a key tool for compliance. It can help maintain building safety information and support better decisions across disciplines working on projects.<\/p>\n

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Lansdowne House. CREDIT: AHMM<\/p><\/div>\n

On Lansdowne House, a major commercial development in London, Mace Construct teamed up with WSP and CLM Fireproofing to rethink passive fire protection and put a new revolutionary digital process to the test. This innovative approach incorporated BIM and a set of \u201cGolden Rules\u201d to analyse and spot compliance gaps at RIBA Stage 4 of the project, reducing risk and improving buildability.<\/p>\n

David Glennon, Group Head of Digital Engineering at Mace Construct says: \u201cThis marks an important step towards improving accountability and strengthening compliance across the built environment. It\u2019s great to see the industry getting behind this approach. Collaboration and shared expertise are crucial if we want to make real progress and drive meaningful change towards more consistent and safer practices.\u201d<\/p>\n

How passive firestopping can be improved through an integrated approach<\/h3>\n

Complex projects can streamline building regulation compliance by adopting a structured, collaborative approach \u2013 ensuring clarity and consistency before construction begins.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how the process reshapes approaches to passive firestopping:<\/p>\n