Building standards (fire safety) - external wall systems: consultation

Introduction

This consultation seeks to obtain the views and opinions of stakeholders on a review of building standards relating to the fire safety of cladding to help ensure the safety of people in and around Scotland's buildings.

The consultation covers five main areas, as follows:

• the wording of mandatory standard 2.7 relating to fire spread on external walls;
• consideration of a definition and ban on the highest risk metal composite material (MCM) cladding panels;
• options to improving standards and guidance on cladding systems, including the continued role of the large scale fire test, BS 8414;
• consequential matters – combustible exemptions; and
• Impact assessments.

The proposed changes outlined in the consultation aim to:

• improve fire safety for the design and construction of all buildings, in relation to external wall cladding systems, making them safer for those in and around buildings in the event of an outbreak of fire.

Why we are consulting

Following the tragic events at Grenfell Tower, London in June 2017 a ministerial working group (MWG) was set up to oversee a review of building and fire regulatory frameworks and any other relevant matters, to help ensure that people are safe in Scotland's buildings, and make any recommendations for improvement as required.

In 2018, the building standards (fire safety) review panel (a sub group), recommended to ministers that the building regulations relating to external fire spread (Standard 2.7) did not require to be amended, but it did recommend that the supporting guidance in the technical handbooks could be strengthened. The key changes in relation to cladding introduced on 1 October 2019 were as follows:

• Lowering the height at which combustible cladding can be used from 18 metres to 11 metres to align with fire-fighting from the ground;
• Tighter controls over the combustibility of cladding systems on hospitals, residential care buildings, entertainment and assembly buildings regardless of building height

More recently, Kevin Stewart, minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning announced at the local government and communities committee meeting on 4 September 2020 that a panel of fire experts would be convened to consider a ban on the highest risk cladding materials through building regulations and to review the role of the large scale fire test, BS 8414.

This consultation reflects the outcomes and proposals of the expert panel.

The Scottish Government is now seeking the views of any organisation or individual with an interest in ensuring building standards legislation and associated technical handbook guidance fully address the issues raised in relation to:

• the design and construction of buildings and the safety of persons in and around buildings in the event of fire spread onto external wall cladding systems.

How we would like you to help

This consultation is comprised of seven questions related to:

• the wording of mandatory standard 2.7 spread on external walls;
• a definition and ban of the highest risk metal composite material (MCM) cladding panels;
• options to improving standards and guidance on cladding systems, including the role of the large scale fire test, BS 8414;
• consequential matters – exemptions for certain penetrations and openings; and
• impact assessments.

Responses to the consultation will be used to inform the final policy and impact assessments that will be prepared in support of any legislative changes.

See information on how to respond to the consultation.