Question reference: S6W-07855
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 5 April 2022
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Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 26 April 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether BS 8414 testing for external cladding systems on buildings is robust.
Answer
The Scottish Government are aware of ongoing criticisms of the BS 8414 test. Opinion on the test within the sector remains divided. The test standard has not been withdrawn by the British Standards Institution and its purpose is to provide data to enable evaluation of the fire performance of components when combined to form a complete cladding system.
Following consultation last year, the Building Scotland (Amendment) Regulations 2022 were laid in the Scottish Parliament on 22 April. From 1 June 2022, these regulations introduce a ban on combustible cladding systems on residential and other high risk buildings over 11m. For such buildings, BS 8414 can no longer be used as an alternative means of compliance with building regulations.