analysis
The new regulatory landscape for fire safety in tall buildings
Tim Vincent, Head of Technical at ROCKWOOL UK, looks at the latest advice for estates managers on managing fire safety in connection with the insulation and cladding on new and existing student accommodation
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INCE the publication of Dame Judith Hackitt’s report for Government following the independent post-
Grenfell Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, much has been written about the risks of combustible insulation and cladding within high-risk buildings. New regulations came into force on 21
December 2018 which mean that combustible materials will not be permitted on the external walls of new buildings over 18m containing flats. In addition, this ban encompasses other high-risk properties including new hospitals, residential care premises, dormitories in boarding schools and student accommodation. Recent guidance issued by the Ministry
of Housing Communities & Local Government (MHCLG)** makes it clear that “Local Authorities have powers, under the Housing Act 2004, to calculate the seriousness of certain hazards and take enforcement action against building owners or landlords based on their assessment.” MHCLG has announced a number of measures to make sure that local authorities have the confidence to use these powers to take enforcement action for high rise residential buildings with unsafe ACM cladding. This would begin with a “Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) assessment to ascertain the risk of harm to an occupier that the cladding process”. In evaluating new constructions and
risks with existing buildings, where the right replacement and remedial actions is required, it is vitally important for estates managers to understand the different product distinctions, performance characteristics and application benefits of the materials they use. In particular, the significant differences between Reaction to Fire and Fire Resistance. Firstly, considering reaction to fire,
there is the distinction between what is combustible and what is non- combustible. Here, we should recognise the classifications given within the Euroclass system applicable under CE Marking rules. The Euroclass system classifies the
reaction to fire performance of building products in accordance with BS EN
8 highereducationestates
13501-1 and requires products to undergo testing for a range of characteristics including: ignitability, flame spread, heat release, smoke production and propensity for producing flaming droplets/particles. The Euroclass system is accepted in the UK and by all European Union States (and is mandatory where there is a Harmonised Product Standard). It includes seven classification levels, A1, A2, B, C, D, E and F, plus one rating (NPD), that sits alongside but outside these ratings. A1 is the highest performance level and F the lowest. Products classified A1 or A2 are considered non-combustible* and those classified B, C, D, E or F combustible. *A1 and A2 classified
products are tested in accordance with the non- combustibility test EN ISO 1182 to identify that they will not, or significantly not, contribute to a fire. Furthermore, A1 classified products are defined as ‘non-combustible’ in official government guidance to Building Regulations in all regions of the UK and in the Republic of Ireland, with both A1 and A2 products defined as non- combustible in Scotland. Manufacturers of CE-
marked construction products in the UK are legally obligated to declare an RtF rating, meaning that estates managers can find out the combustibility rating of cladding and insulation products from the products’ Declaration of Performance (DoP) certificates. The term Class 0 is not to
be confused with a Euroclass reaction to fire rating. Class 0 only assesses ‘spread of flame’, as opposed to
* MHCLG Local Authority Enforcement Powers under the Housing Act 2004, 21 February 2019
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/loca l-authority-enforcement-powers-under-the-housing- act-2004?utm_source=4cd8c1f7-661d-47e4-950d- c7079daf7029&utm_medium=email&utm_campai gn=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate
the ‘reaction to fire’ assessment of materials which are made through the Euroclass system but having Class 0 certification is commonly misinterpreted to mean that a product is non- combustible or a close equivalent. It is not uncommon for combustible materials
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