This week has seen some important developments affecting the fire safety and construction industry, with a government statement on Monday followed by Grenfell Tower Inquiry issuing its final Phase Two report on Wednesday, 4th September 2024.
Rutland takes this opportunity to remember those who were lost in the Grenfell tragedy and offer condolences to all those affected.
The Grenfell disaster should never have happened, and we remain fully committed to ensuring every product that we sell is fit for purpose. We are also committed to openly sharing essential product performance data and any other information necessary for the correct specification, installation, and maintenance of our fire door hardware and closing devices.
· CE Mark to continue beyond June 2025
· BS 476 to be obsolete on 2nd Sept 2029
· Testing regime to be further strengthened
· Grenfell Enquiry Phase Two Report
In a written statement on Monday 2nd September, the Minister for Building Safety and Homelessness, Rushanara Ali, outlined the UK Government's position on extending the CE regime past the previous end-date of 30 June 2025.
Furthermore, Ali committed to giving the construction products industry two years’ notice before any new end date comes into effect.
In explaining the rationale for extending CE acceptance in the UK, Ali stated the aim is to avoid barriers on fit-for-purpose fire-rated products entering the UK market when the need for them is so pressing.
She also acknowledged that the necessary UKCA assessment needs for CE-only marked products could not be met by existing UKCAS-approved testing and assessment bodies. This is something that the industry has been saying for a long time and confirmed in the 2023 Independent Review of the Construction Products Testing Regime.
The response given by the government to the call for a “clearer, transparent and effective testing regime” in the Hackitt Report, is to formally end the use of ‘national classes’ as fire resistance and fire reaction ratings. For fire doors, this means the BS 476 standard (fire test requirements for fire resistance rating) ceases to be recognised in five years time. This is a “generous yet critical approach” to transitioning from dual recognition (national and international standards) to the single, internationally recognised standard, one that avoids disruption to supply chains according to Ali.
The Grenfell Enquiry has revealed widespread distrust in the current testing regime and manufacturer’s claims. In Monday’s statement, Ali gave a strong call for “system wide reform of the construction products regulatory regime” while deferring recommendations to the pending release of the Grenfell Enquiry Phase Two report.
A Circular issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government dated 2nd Sept 2024 updates guidance on the end of BS 476 and transitional arrangements (amongst other building related updates).
Also issued along with this are the various revisions of the Approved Doc B, including the 2029 deletion of references to BS476 and the entirely rewritten Appendix C: Fire Doorsets
On the 4th September 2024, the Grenfell Inquiry published its final Phase Two report. This in-depth, 7 volume report will take some time to digest and consider and we will endeavour to keep our industry partners and customers updated with government and industry action to address the issues and recommendations raised.
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