Industry awaits verdict as cladding fire tests completed

Aaron Morby 7 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.

ACM with a limited combustibility filler (A2) with mineral wool insulation passes BRE fire test
ACM with a limited combustibility filler (A2) with mineral wool insulation passes BRE fire test

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

Administrators take control at Acheson Construction

40 staff made redundant at South West regional contractor
2 days ago

34 secure spots on £1bn NEPO civils framework

Balfour Beatty, Graham, Taylor Woodrow and Winvic signed up for first time
2 days ago

Bouygues claims net zero construction goal at Welsh project

Llanelli leisure centre and health campus achieves green construction target
2 days ago

Manchester civil service digital campus approved

Two Government office blocks totaling 900,000sq ft to cost £310m to build
2 days ago

New mobile charging vans crack electric plant downtime anxiety

FM Conway trials new service that recharges small plant in one hour
2 days ago

Build to rent deal kick starts 3,500-home Dagenham scheme

Deal secures 935-home first phase of Ford Dagenham plant redevelopment
3 days ago

RSK adds another 110 staff with N-Able Group deal

Consultant and construction services group makes latest acquisition
2 days ago

JRL Malaysian backers plan 580-home Wheat Quarter scheme

Plans in for Welwyn Garden City Shredded Wheat factory redevelopment
3 days ago

Recycled aggregate firms blast new waste crime levy

10% levy on all recycled aggregate producers to fund policing waste crime
3 days ago

£110m Liverpool Metalworks resi scheme gets nod

Legacie Contracts tipped for 16-storey Pumpfields project
3 days ago

Building products firm fined £1m after double accident

Scaffolder hurt in fall and worker caught in machinery at Norbord factory
3 days ago

Graham lands £42m Woking road upgrade

A320 upgrade will unlock new housing schemes along route
3 days ago

Dandara 300 homes High Wycombe project approved

Firm to demolish Chilterns Shopping Centre for build to rent job
3 days ago

Three Keltbray managers took £600,000 in bribes

Site managers convicted for taking kickbacks from labour supply specialist
4 days ago

Bidding starts for £1bn YORcivil major works deal

Eight firms face fight to renew places on big civils framework
4 days ago

ECF clinches deal for Hull 850-home urban village

East Bank waterside village plan advances
5 days ago

Maintenance firm Cardo in second Scottish acquisition

North Lanarkshire property maintenance firm Rodgers & Johnston bought
4 days ago

Kier confirms £41m Salford Uni health building job

Work starts on specialist three storey teaching building
4 days ago

Passenger train derailed after hitting track left by Colas workers

Contractor and Network Rail asked to make improvements after accident
5 days ago

Bryson signs £6m safety products deal with Skanska

Safety specialist becomes sole supplier to contracting giant
5 days ago

Murphy wins St Fergus gas compressor project

Three low emission compressor units to be installed for National Gas
4 days ago

Blenheim House payout hopes fade as claims hit £33m

Suggested 10p in the £1 payout for subcontractors now unlikely
5 days ago

£1.3bn decarbonising and fire safety deals out for bid

South East Consortium starts hunt for firms for housing upgrade work prize
5 days ago

£30m turnover M&E contractor files administration notice

TNA Electrical makes administration application
5 days ago

Plan for first big offices at £1.7bn Manchester innovation hub

500,000 sq ft of offices planned at renamed Sister development
5 days ago

Murphy starts work on £2.5bn Eastern Green Link 1

Giant subsea electricity cable project will take three years to build
5 days ago

Subcontractors wanted for work across Birmingham

Latest Constructionline event: Register now
5 days ago

Acheson Construction files administration notice

£53m turnover South West contractor lodges court notice
6 days ago

Hunt for 10 firms to deliver £37bn new hospital plan

Race starts for mega-framework with pledge to spread work among all firms
6 days ago

Springfield to build homes for army of green energy workers

Scottish house builder sells 2,480 plots to Barratt Redrow in strategy switch
6 days ago

Contractor services