Building Regulations to be reviewed in wake of Grenfell

The government is reviewing building regulations in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire.

The move comes as new detailed cladding test results revealed 82 towers do not meet current standards.

The latest tests were of a wall cladding system consisting of Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) with polyethylene filler (Category 3) and foam insulation, with fire breaks and cavity barriers in place.

Six different combinations of ACM cladding and insulation will be tested on a nine metre wall at the Building Research Establishment.

It is then subjected to a replica of a severe fire inside a flat as it spreads out of a window, to see whether it meets the requirement to resist vertical fire spread.

Results of other combination tests will be released as they happen.

Owners of the 82 towers using the non-compliant cladding highlighted in the first round of system testing have been contacted with government advice.

The Grenfell Independent Expert Advisory Panel said: “Landlords of buildings with cladding using the same combination of materials as in this first full scale test must now act on the additional advice they have been given since this test, to seek professional advice about any necessary remedial work.”

The review of Building regulations will be headed by former HSE chair Dame Judith Hackitt.

An interim report on proposed changes will be produced by next Spring.

Dame Judith said: “I am keen to engage widely with industry and the public to inform the recommendations from the review.

“I want the recommendations to lead to any necessary improvements in the system being made.”

The review will examine:

• the regulatory system around the design, construction and on-going management of buildings in relation to fire safety
• related compliance and enforcement issues
• international regulation and experience in this area

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/07/28/building-regulations-to-be-reviewed-in-wake-of-grenfell/

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