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

Keltbray fine increased to £18m after failed bid rigging appeal

Contractor loses penalty discount for settling with competition authorities
1 day ago

Luxury house builder goes under with 70 job losses

Octagon Developments in administration after 40 years in business
2 days ago

Top Ten best read stories of 2024

The biggest headlines of an eventful year. Have a good one and here's to a successful 2025
2 days ago

BAM Nuttall fined £800,000 after concrete skip tragedy

Young labourer killed by falling bale arm
3 days ago

Keltbray infrastructure business reveals new name

AUREOS means "new dawn" after private equity acquisition
2 days ago

Stiffer fines for over-running street works from next Summer

Cash raised from lane rentals to be channeled into pothole repairs
2 days ago

£113m Basildon rental homes scheme seals build finance

Work expected to start early next year on Market Square project
2 days ago

Notting Hill Genesis seeks more tier 1 repairs contractors

London housing trust seeks eight firms for new £1.5bn repairs framework
2 days ago

Reclaimed steel oil rig columns worked into London office revamp

Curo will use reclaimed bricks and steel for Fitzrovia office overhaul
3 days ago

CITB delays levy approval consultation

Levy agreement talks pushed back by ongoing review into effectiveness of training body
3 days ago

Ofwat approves £104bn water industry spending plan

Household water bills to rise by 36% to fund quadrupling of investment
3 days ago

Costain/ Siemens JV clinches HS2 power supply job

£300m deal for HV power supply systems over the 225km route
3 days ago

Demolition team assembles on Multiplex London Wall site

Erith to start work next month at Deutsche Bank's former headquarters
4 days ago

Norwich Council acts to revive £300m Anglia Square scheme

Council uses Homes England funding to buy stalled site with planning for 1,100 homes
3 days ago

Go-ahead for 4,500-home Cambridgeshire new town

Waterbeach new town plan stalled three years ago after an Environment Agency objection
3 days ago

Henry Boot to take total control of Stonebridge Homes

Deal worth at least £30m
3 days ago

HS2 costs could hit £66bn

Government looking for next estimate to be lower
4 days ago

Mace to close construction logistics arm

Specialist business being wound down
4 days ago

National Grid to invest £35bn over next five years

Plan set out for record investment in electricity transmission infrastructure
4 days ago

Profits double at Barhale

Civils specialist sees order book top £1bn
4 days ago

Balfour wins 68km HV underground power cable deal

Main works to start next year on Eastern Green Link 2 job
4 days ago

Stunning site wrap unveiled on Sloane Street

Hoarding creates illusion of fully formed façade on £53m Galliford Try job
4 days ago

Heathrow Airport upgrade spend takes off again

Airport operator will spend £2.3bn over the next two years
4 days ago

Government buys back over 36,000 military homes

Public ownership deal to release wave of upgrade and new build work
5 days ago

Story Contracting staff braced for rail job losses

Work coming through slower than expected from Network Rail
5 days ago

Ballymore submits two plans for 3,700 East London homes

Construction could start in 2025 on Thames Road and Knights Road schemes
5 days ago

Blackpool council steps in on failed developer’s £300m scheme

Blackpool Central site clearance to start in the New Year as hunt starts for new developer
6 days ago

Brookfield submits retro-first London office plan

Milton Gate plan for Square Mile will hike space by nearly 50%
5 days ago

Bowmer + Kirkland gets start date for £100m Siemens site

Construction to begin early next year on Chippenham scheme
6 days ago

Torsion sells under-construction Leeds BTR scheme

Concrete frame due to start soon on 300-apartment complex
6 days ago

Contractor services