Industry awaits verdict as cladding fire tests completed

Aaron Morby 8 years ago
Share

The Government has pledged to set out clear advice on the use of high-rise cladding systems after completing seven large-scale fire tests on popular aluminium composite cladding systems.

Until this is published, building owners are being left in limbo despite four cladding systems failing the BRE testing regime needed to demonstrate compliance with Building Regulation fire performance.

So far 228 residential buildings over 18m have been identified to be fitted with cladding systems that fail performance tests.

But with the results all in, designers and contractors are warning that manufacturers’ descriptions of the performance of materials could still create confusion.

A cladding industry source said: “These results must be welcomed because they bring some clarity to what systems comply with Building Regulation requirements.

“But the use of the terminology used by manufacturers around combustibility of fillers used in aluminium cladding needs to be addressed to end market confusion.”

Cladding system tests Result 18m-plus buildings
ACM with unmodified polyethylene filler (PE) with PIR foam insulation Failed 82
ACM with unmodified polyethylene filler (PE) with mineral wool insulation Failed 111
ACM with a fire retardant polyethylene filler (FR) with PIR foam insulation Failed 13
ACM with fire retardant polyethylene filler (FR) and phenolic foam insulation Failed 22
ACM with fire retardant polyethylene filler (FR) with mineral insulation Passed 13
ACM with a limited combustibility filler (A2) with PIR foam insulation Passed 0
ACM with a limited combustibility filler (A2) with mineral wool insulation Passed 0

The final test involving the least combustible combination of components passed the latest fire test as expected.

This involved a wall cladding system consisting of ACM cladding with a limited combustibility filler (A2) in combination with stone (mineral) wool insulation.

Announcing the result, the Government advisory panel said that this combination of materials were compliant when installed and maintained properly.

A statement said: “While government has not been informed of any tall buildings over 18 metres in England using this particular combination of materials in their wall system, it could offer a possible solution for some buildings with other cladding systems which have been identified as a fire hazard through previous large-scale tests.

“The clear advice from the expert panel remains that building owners need to continue to take professional advice regarding remedial work that takes into account the specific circumstances of their building.”

It added: “The purpose of this testing programme is to develop a better understanding of how different types of cladding panels behave with different types of insulation in a fire.

“This is so building owners and their professional advisors can make informed decisions. Results of all seven large-scale tests are available and government will shortly publish consolidated advice to landlords based on all the seven tests.”

Latest news

Mount Anvil JV secures approval for Isle of Dogs estate rebuild

Tower Hamlets backs Tiller Road Estate 400-home rebuild
2 days ago

Timber giant files administration notice

National Timber Group England lodges court notice while rescue options assessed
2 days ago

Landsec pushes back starts on four major housing schemes to 2027

Housing slump forces developer to slow £3.6bn resi pipeline
2 days ago

Network Rail launches property development company

Platform4 targets 40,000 new homes and 10 million sq ft of commercial space over the next decade
2 days ago

Glencar starts first major job at Atom Valley

Green materials centre kick-starts development at Rochdale site
2 days ago

Magazines pose as main contractors to pester subbies

Contractors and clients urged to stop handing over supply chain lists to publishers
2 days ago

Construction hangs on to growth as new orders rebound

New orders up nearly 10% as commercial and industrial work demand stirs
3 days ago

Kier’s new boss off to a flyer as order book hits £11.6bn

Contractor locks in 94% of annual revenue as Stuart Togwell takes charge
3 days ago

Sisk hires former Graham civils MD as new infrastructure boss

Leo Martin joins in New Year in COO role created after Farrans acquisition
4 days ago

BSR to break free of HSE in late January

Draft regulations lodged to create independent Building Safety Regulator with power to prosecute
3 days ago

Wylfa to be home of UK’s first small modular nuclear reactors

Construction will start on £2.5bn Anglesey site next year
3 days ago

Morgan Sindall starts £100m Manchester labs hub

Work starts on 217,000 sq ft Knowledge Quarter lab hub
3 days ago

Willmott Dixon and Milligan team up for Weymouth revival

Partnership to draw up masterplan shaping seaside town regeneration.
3 days ago

Ballymore and Sainsbury’s to build new neighbourhood

11-year construction programme scheduled to start in 2026 in west London
4 days ago

Construction employment sinks to 24-year low

Direct employees now falling faster than self-employed as costs bite
4 days ago

Galliford Try still stumped by legionella at £45m health centre

Contractor takes control of water system at building still empty nearly a year after completion
5 days ago

Three firms shortlisted for £205m A9 dualling job

Balfour Beatty, Kier and Wills Bros are in the running for fifth A9 job
4 days ago

Green light for Liverpool twin tower scheme

Site clearance to start early next year to pave way for 19 and 25-storey buildings
4 days ago

Taylor Wimpey urges Budget boost for homebuyers as sales stay flat

House builder urges stimulus to unlock first-time buyer demand as sales rate dips
4 days ago

MPs call for radical overhaul of infrastructure delivery

Cross-party MPs calls for Whitehall reset on how major projects are planed and delivered
4 days ago

OCU moves into district heating with Valmech buy

Sheffield mechanical specialist to lead new district heating platform
5 days ago

Costain takes Morgan Sindall’s spot on Eastern Highways deal

Firm steps into EHA4 just nine months after framework launch
5 days ago

HSE issues emergency guidance after Assent collapse

Higher-risk schemes must reapply to the regulator before work can restart
6 days ago

Knights Brown profit jumps as energy and coastal work surge

Turnover up 15% to £116m as firm gears up for AMP8 water boom
5 days ago

Speller Metcalfe appoints former Mace Boss Mark Castle

Industry veteran takes on contractor's first Non-Executive Chair role
5 days ago

Green light nears for Edinburgh’s £1.3bn coastal town

Cruden Homes ready to kick off Granton Waterfront’s first 847 net-zero-ready homes
5 days ago

Construction quizzed over plans to tighten asbestos regs

Plans to increase protection for site workers
5 days ago

Green light for Surrey Police HQ and homes plan

Leatherhead site to deliver new base and 225 homes after RAAC-hit Reigate closure
6 days ago

Go-ahead for GPE’s latest London HQ project

Whittington House upgrade forms part of 220,000 sq ft cluster near Tottenham Court Road
6 days ago

New faces join £1bn YORcivil Major Works framework

BAM, Esh, Jackson and Octavius secure spots for first time
6 days ago