Government consultation unveiled into banning use of combustible cladding materials

In recent days, an important consultation has been opened by the UK Housing Secretary which will look into banning the use of ‘combustible’ cladding materials on high-rise residential buildings.

The consultation, which comes little over a year on from the Grenfell Tower tragedy, sets out to ensure that there will be ‘no doubt’ among developers as to which types of materials can and cannot be used on the external walls of high-rise buildings.

It follows a statement made to Parliament on 11 June 2018 which confirmed that the Government would seek to “ban the use of combustible materials on the external walls of high-rise residential buildings, subject to consultation.”

Further to recommendations laid out in the recent Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety spearheaded by Dame Judith Hackitt – which have been largely welcomed by the Government – the new official consultation proposes important revisions to building regulations, which would effectively ban the use of combustible materials:

• In the ‘inner leaf’
• As part of insulation
• In exterior cladding materials.

The consultation, which will run until 14 August 2018, is seeking views on its proposals from residents, industry and any other interested parties.

Commenting, Housing Secretary James Brokenshire, said: “I have listened carefully to concerns and I intend to ban the use of combustible materials on the external walls of high-rise residential buildings, subject to consultation.

“I believe that the changes on which we are consulting will offer even greater certainty to concerned residents and to the construction industry.”

The full consultation can be accessed on the GOV.UK website here.

 

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