The UK Government has published a response to the review of the ban on the use of combustible materials in and on the external walls of buildings with the introduction of the Building etc. (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2022 to implement the following changes:

• Change the building types included within the ban – The legislation will bring hotels, hostels and boarding houses within scope.
• Metal Composite Materials – The legislation will introduce a complete ban on the use of the type of metal composite material that was used on Grenfell Tower (metal composite material with an unmodified polyethylene core) in the external walls of all new buildings and buildings undergoing building works, regardless of height or use.
• Attachments – The legislation will include curtains and slats of solar shading devices within scope of the ban, with a limited exemption for ground floor awnings.
• Exemptions – The legislation will amend the list of materials exempted from the combustible materials ban to include fibre optic cables and insulation up to 300mm from ground level. This will include an 18-month temporary relaxation for cavity trays in all forms of construction.
• Performance Requirements – The legislation will update the classification that materials must meet to comply with the combustible materials ban to the current version and allows the top layer of a balcony floor to meet the required standard using the horizontal-testing equivalent of the existing standard (which requires materials to be tested vertically).

The Government will also issue an amendment to Approved Document B to introduce new guidance for external walls and balconies for residential buildings between 11m and 18m in height. This change will take effect in England on 1 December 2022.

If you need any fire safety or fire engineering advice for project or building feel free to contact the ORSA team at info@orsa.uk.