Preparing a building control application for remediation work on a higher-risk building can be a complex process. Designs must be sufficiently developed, evidence needs to relate directly to the proposed solution, and information from different specialists must present one clear and coordinated picture.
To help project teams prepare stronger applications, the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has published a Remediation Toolkit. This practical pre-submission checklist explains the information the BSR expects to see and highlights common issues that can lead to requests for clarification or delays.
The toolkit does not introduce new legal requirements, replace the Building Regulations or remove the need for competent professional advice. Instead, it helps teams understand how to make their applications construction-ready, clearly explained, appropriately evidenced and coordinated across the relevant disciplines.
Who is the Remediation Toolkit for?
The toolkit is intended for people preparing building control applications for remediation work on existing higher-risk buildings. This includes:
- Clients and accountable persons
- Principal designers and other designers
- Contractors
- Fire engineers
- Façade specialists
- Structural engineers
- Other technical advisers
Its central message is that assessors should not have to interpret disconnected documents or infer how the proposed design is intended to comply.
A strong application should explain the building’s existing condition, the risks identified, the work proposed and why the selected solution is appropriate. It should then connect those decisions to relevant technical evidence and show how the work will be controlled, inspected and verified.
Are remediation applications progressing more quickly?
The latest BSR data indicates that remediation applications are progressing more quickly. For the 12 weeks to 1 August 2026, the national approval rate for existing-building remediation was 85%, rising to 92% in London. Although the overall median approval time was 34 weeks, this includes older cases from 2024 and 2025. Applications submitted in 2026 had a median determination time of 21 weeks.
This is an encouraging improvement, but it does not remove the need for a complete, coordinated and well-evidenced application, which is where the Remediation Toolkit can help.
View the BSR’s latest building control approval application data.
The seven checks in the BSR’s Remediation Toolkit
1. Is the design ready for assessment?
The BSR expects sufficiently mature, construction-level design information rather than a proposal that remains at concept or scheme stage.
Materials, products, systems and key interfaces should be defined. Important decisions should not be deferred until after contractor appointment or left for development during construction.
For balcony and terrace packages, this may mean identifying the decking, support system, fixings and interface details early enough for the wider team to assess and coordinate them.
2. Have you clearly explained your route to compliance?
Drawings, specifications and product information do not necessarily demonstrate compliance on their own. The application should clearly explain:
- Which Building Regulations requirements apply
- How the proposed design addresses them
- What evidence supports the approach
- Where that evidence can be found
A structured compliance narrative can help connect the identified risks, applicable requirements, design decisions and supporting evidence. The clearer this route is, the less interpretation is required from the assessor.
3. Are your claims and assumptions supported by evidence?
Statements about performance, risk or impact should be supported by proportionate technical reasoning and evidence.
Broad conclusions such as “negligible impact” or “not applicable” may generate questions if their basis is not explained. Assumptions should be identified, while conclusions should be supported by relevant calculations, assessments, test evidence or other technical information.
Product information should also relate to the product and application being proposed. Generic evidence that cannot be clearly linked to the design may be insufficient.
4. Have all relevant external wall considerations been addressed?
External remediation is multidisciplinary. The toolkit highlights the need to consider areas such as:
- Fire safety
- Structural performance and wind loading
- Waterproofing and drainage
- Safety in use
- Thermal performance
- Interfaces between systems
Balconies and terraces should therefore be considered as part of the coordinated building design. Decking, support systems, thresholds, façades, waterproofing, drainage and balustrades may all interact.
Early coordination between manufacturers, designers and relevant specialists can help identify conflicts before the application is submitted.
5. Does the PAS 9980 assessment support the remediation proposal?
A PAS 9980 assessment can inform decisions about external wall fire risk, but it does not demonstrate compliance with the Building Regulations on its own.
Where an assessment is included, it should reflect the current proposal and explain how its findings have informed the remediation strategy. It should also align with the drawings, specifications and other information submitted.
If the design or product specification changes, the project team should consider whether the assessment and associated design decisions need to be reviewed.
6. Are the documents coordinated and easy to assess?
Reports, drawings and specifications must present a consistent picture of the proposed work. Common problems include conflicting information, outdated documents, unclear revision control and uncoordinated specialist input.
The toolkit suggests using resources such as:
- An application overview
- A compliance statement or narrative
- A drawing schedule
- A technical evidence schedule
- A document register
- Clear signposting to the information addressing each requirement
This helps assessors identify the current design and understand how each document contributes to the submission.
7. Have you explained how safety will be maintained during and after construction?
Decking may represent only one part of a remediation project, but it can involve several areas requiring careful definition and coordination.
Depending on the design and application, the project team may need to consider:
- Reaction-to-fire classification
- The complete decking and support-system build-up
- Structural capacity and loading
- Wind-uplift requirements
- Fixings and connection details
- Interfaces with façades, thresholds and balustrades
- Waterproofing and drainage
- Slip resistance and safety in use
- Installation, inspection and maintenance requirements
Product selection alone does not establish compliance. The chosen system, project-specific details, supporting evidence and wider compliance narrative must align.
For this reason, bringing manufacturers and technical specialists into the process early can help teams resolve details and obtain the necessary product information before the design is finalised.
How can MyDek support remediation project teams?
MyDek works with architects, contractors, developers and other project stakeholders to help develop clearly defined balcony and terrace decking packages.
Non-combustible decking solutions
MyDek offers non-combustible decking systems for balcony and terrace applications, including A1 fire-rated options. Relevant product data, classifications and available technical evidence can be supplied to support the project team’s assessment and compliance strategy.
The appropriate system and evidence must always be considered in the context of the complete design and proposed application.
Bespoke solutions for complex details
Remediation projects rarely present completely standard conditions. Existing thresholds, variable build-up heights, retained steelwork, drainage requirements and interfaces with other systems can all affect the decking design.
MyDek can assist with project-specific layouts and support-system solutions, helping teams address complex details before they become late-stage issues.
Technical information and support
Depending on the project and design stage, MyDek can provide information including:
- Product data and specifications
- Fire-classification evidence
- System layouts and drawings
- Loading and span information
- Fixing and installation guidance
- Support with decking and substructure interfaces
This can help the design team define the proposed package and coordinate it with the wider submission. Responsibility for determining the applicable requirements and demonstrating compliance remains with the project’s appointed dutyholders and competent professionals.
Is your decking package ready for submission?
Before completing an application, consider asking:
- Are the decking product and complete support-system build-up defined?
- Are construction-level drawings available?
- Are interfaces with façades, thresholds, waterproofing and balustrades coordinated?
- Is relevant product evidence included and correctly referenced?
- Have loading and wind-uplift requirements been addressed?
- Are drainage and safety-in-use considerations explained?
- Do the specifications, schedules and drawings show the same design revision?
- Are installation, inspection and change-control requirements clear?
Better preparation supports a smoother assessment
The BSR’s Remediation Toolkit is not a shortcut to approval. It is a practical framework for making an application more complete, coherent and straightforward to assess.
Teams can reduce avoidable questions by developing the design fully, coordinating information across disciplines and clearly connecting decisions to relevant evidence.
If you are working on a balcony or terrace remediation project, MyDek can support your team with non-combustible decking, support system solutions and relevant technical information.
Speak to our team about your project requirements or visit our Building Safety Regime Hub for further guidance and resources.