12th September 2024
While headlines about the release of the Grenfell Inquiry’s phase two report have dominated the recent construction news agenda, the Government announced more critical construction product reforms. Following an independent review of the construction products testing regime, Rushanara Ali, Building Safety Minister within the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), announced a new package of reforms, including scrapping national fire testing standards and reverting back to the safer and more stringent European standards.
In this article, George Danzey-Smith, Director of Commercial and Technical, outlines exactly what the latest reforms mean for construction and how ARC remains committed to helping customer navigate the changing regulatory landscape.
Being across the latest regulations is central to our mission at ARC. Our customers don’t just rely on us for the latest innovative solutions, they also require our knowledge and trust us to give them the right information when it comes to complying with building regulations.
Rushanara Ali’s latest round of reforms is significant for the industry. The headline measures see construction product regulations fall in line with more robust European standards. As part of the changes, the use of the CE marking will be extended beyond the current deadline set by the previous Government for 30th June 2025.
Bringing to light broader shortcomings in the product certification system, the Government has also taken decisive action to abolish national classes in fire testing standards. Currently, Approved Document B operates a dual system for reaction to fire and roofs and fire resistance testing and classification for construction products. This includes both the National Classes (BS 476) and the European Standard (BS EN 13501 series). Despite efforts by the previous Government, the national classes are seldom used in the industry and so the new Government, in an attempt to bring greater clarity to the guidance, has removed references to BS 476 in relation to both reaction to fire and resistance – the latter affected construction products testing.
This means that from September 2029, when the transitional period comes to an end, all fire stopping products will need to be tested to European EN 1366 standards. Something we are already committed to at ARC, our customers will not experience a difference, although for many manufacturers, this change will mean conducting new product tests and supplying new data to prove compliance to regulations.
While these reforms are a step in the right direction and a clear signal of intent by the Government, they still fall short in realising the true potential of construction product regulations. There is, for example, still no harmonised standard for cavity fire barriers or cavity closers.
The best option, and the one we recommend to our customers is to seek third-party certified products. Proudly, every ARC fire stopping product has been independently tested by third-party fire engineers and validated our product test data. Our IFC certification ensures our products can be specified with confidence and, more importantly, our customers can trust that our products with stand up in the event of a fire. This peace of mind cannot be overstated, especially with so much uncertainty still surrounding the product testing regime. This will continue to be our driving motivation as we all navigate fire safety challenges together.
Any step taken by Government to eradicate the poor practices and shortcomings in product certification should be commended. Only through positive action and change can the industry unite and drive a safer built environment.
The lack of transparency around product testing and certification has been the cause of huge uncertainty in our industry. Where safety is concerned and lives are at stake, trust is as valuable a commodity as any. Through its actions, the Government is already signalling a crackdown on those manufacturers who choose to tread the line, eliminating the ability to market products based on misleading test results. Only by eradicating this practice can we create a more trusting construction environment, resulting in truly safer building practices.
