UK fire regulations for façades
Make your façade project safe.
Why all materials, which are part of an external wall, should achieve a Class A2. Including facade membranes.
Approved Document B Regulation 7(2)
10.10 Regulation 7(2) applies to any building at least 11 m above ground level (as measured in accordance with Diagram D6 in Appendix D),which contains one or more dwellings; an institution; or a room for residential purposes (excluding any room in a hostel, hotel or a boarding house) requires that all materials which become part of an external wall or specified attachment achieve class A2-s1,d0 or class A1, other than those exempted by regulation 7(3).
And it's spirit.
Everyone deserves the best possible level of fire protection with regards to fire safety. This means, when designing buildings that require a breathable membrane, using materials that are specified from the outset as A2-s1,d0, as in the spirit of Approved Document B Part B4. It means using façade breather membranes like Stamisol Safe One.
People in your building rely on real safety in case of fire.
Working together, we can make it happen.
Fire safety is everyone’s responsibility
You cannot put a price on the safety of lives. It is now possible to create a full building skin in Euroclass A2, from the design outset, when specifications and costs are developed.
Architects and fire consultants contribute to protecting the lives of those within the building in case of fire. Residents rely on and should expect experts to design for inherent fire safety from the beginning; they do not expect a race to the bottom on price. They understand value for money, but expect designers to use the right products at the right time.
Working together, we can make it happen. With a new level of competence and compliance for fire safety in future buildings, we can support and protect the people for whom we are building. This includes fitting the Class A2 Stamisol Safe One façade breather membranes, when recladding high-rise buildings.
Send us an e-mail to stamisol.co.uk@sergeferrari.com and we can discuss with you how to optimize the fire safety in your façade projects.
Outlook
Whilst today, vertical breather membranes are exempt from A2 materials, which form part of an external wall, they should never the less, achieve a class A2-s1,d0. Vertical breather membranes should not be confused with damp proof and roof membranes, which are considered not to be part of the wall system.
Stamisol are lobbying the MHCLG and the IRG to change the materials exemptions section within Approved Document B for new buildings, where vertical membranes are called for within architectural designs.To give assurances to all parties responsible for ADB updates, independent tests have been carried out internally and by the FPA to ensure the compliance and competence of the façade membrane. Part of the Dame Judith Hackett review was to recommend and ensure that independent testing of fire control products was carried out with a DoP. That the competence of installers utilising compliant products, was imposed and that the “golden thread” of design, installation and building sign-off took place.
In support of this the Stamisol Safe One technical team has developed a RIBA CPD Webinar promoting the product, its application in meeting UK building regulation and promoting the changes needed, by working with organisations such as MHCLG, LABC, BESA and RIBA Architects.
With between 350 and 2,000 high-rise buildings possibly needing recladding, the Stamisol Safe One membrane was developed to replace the existing class E and B vertical membranes currently installed on high-rise buildings.
Statements of official authorities
What experts say.
Dame Judith Hackitt
Chair of the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety
09th Nov, 2020 - Dame Judith Hackitt has announced plans to recognise companies who reform their working practices before they are forced to by new regulations. Speaking at the BESA National Conference, the chair of the Industry Safety Steering Group said businesses should not be waiting for the new building regulations due to come into force in 2023 and the appointment of the new building safety regulator before making essential changes.
Dame Judith went on to say that there are too many companies not doing anything at all but there are also a good number of early adopters, confirming: “We are looking at ways to recognise those companies and reward them with a special accreditation for taking the lead – giving you another reason to be ahead of the game.”
Dame Judith Hackitt
Chair of the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety
In a separate speech during the Construction Leaders’ Summit in October, Dame Judith warned that many construction firms will not survive the process of change leading to the new building regulations. She urged company owners and managers to start making changes immediately, but said many would leave it too late to be ready for the new regime, saying: “Any part of this sector that thinks it can survive by standing still or defending its current territory is sadly mistaken.
“I suspect that some of you are working on the assumption that [you have] two to three years before you really need to worry about this - that is akin to going out on a big party on a night before lockdown in the current pandemic. You’re knowingly taking a risk that you don’t need to, and which you shouldn’t, and you are ignoring the potential consequences. It is also morally indefensible.”
Jane Duncan
Chair of the RIBA’s Expert Advisory Group on Fire Safety
“I am pleased that the government have taken recommendations on board and broadened the cladding ban to include other high-risk buildings such as hospitals, residential accommodation and care homes.
We would like to see other high-risk buildings included, such as hotels and hostels, which are specifically exempted from the legislation.
The technical intricacies of the cladding ban might have left room for flammable products to still be deemed acceptable, I therefore welcome the fire ratings proposal for A1 and A2 s1,d0 products which we believe align with our research.”
Nick Coombe
London Fire Brigade
Strategic Technical Advisor and Vice Chair of National´ Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC)
“Of 500 residential blocks assessed, 65 % failed a fire safety inspection.”
350 existing buildings so far need to be reclad.
Ester McVey
Minister for MHCLG UK Parliament
14/01/2020
Ms McVey responded to a written question in parliament on behalf of the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), and revealed that its inbox for housing checks has seen over 9,000 emails from concerned local authorities since the Grenfell Tower fire.
The Housing Checks mailbox was set up to “allow local authorities and housing associations to report towers within their areas which used aluminium composite material cladding [ACM].”
Further topics
Learn more about maximum fire safety and creativity for your full façade system with Stamisol Safe One façade breather membrane Class A2-s1,d0
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