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NHF calls for further testing of cladding to ‘provide reassurance’
The National Housing Federation (NHF) has called on government to carry out a further test of cladding to “provide more reassurance” on its safety.
The NHF said the government should commission a test of category 1 aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding with phenolic foam, which would provide “more reassurance on the safety of this combination” than just the existing desktop review.
Desktop reviews involve an engineer certifying that a previous cladding set-up is safe for other buildings without carrying out a test.
The government commissioned the Building Research Establishment to carry out seven tests of different combinations of cladding over the summer, but this did not include the combination of category 1 ACM and phenolic foam.
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A spokesperson for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: “The Independent Expert Advisory Panel is considering available evidence about the fire safety of wider cladding systems and will advise government on whether any additional tests are necessary.”
Below is a summary of the tests carried out over the summer:
- Test 1, July 2017: ACM cladding with unmodified polyethylene filler (category 3) with polyisocyanurate (PIR) foam insulation
- Test 2, July 2017: ACM cladding with unmodified polyethylene filler (category 3) with stone wool insulation
- Test 3, July 2017: ACM cladding with fire-retardant polyethylene filler (category 2) with PIR foam insulation
- Test 4, August 2017: ACM cladding with fire-retardant polyethylene filler (category 2) with stone wool insulation
- Test 5, August 2017: ACM cladding with A2 filler (category 1) with PIR foam insulation
- Test 6, August 2017: ACM cladding with A2 filler (category 1) with stone wool insulation
- Test 7, August 2017: ACM cladding with fire-retardant polyethylene filler (category 2) with phenolic foam insulation
