The Royal Institute
of British Architects (RIBA) has submitted evidence to the Government’s
consultation on banning the use of combustible materials in the external walls
of high-rise residential buildings.
After a lengthy
investigation, the Institute has concluded that a ban on combustible materials
is the only way to ensure that our buildings are safe and fit for the future.
The RIBA response
was made to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)
consultation that was launched in the wake of Dame Judith Hackitt’s Independent
Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety.
The architect’s body
argues for A1 ‘non-combustible’ certification, contrary to those who continue
to suggest that products of ‘limited combustibility’ should be permitted. The
Institute also strongly recommends that the ban is extended to include any high-rise
buildings, such as offices and educational buildings, to ensure that the public
is properly protected in the event of a fire.
Adrian Dobson,
Executive Director Professional Services at the Royal Institute of British
Architects says: “The RIBA strongly recommends that the Government supports a
comprehensive ban on combustible materials for all high rise buildings.
"Continuing to
allow materials of ‘limited combustibility’ (A2 classification) is unacceptable
in the wake of the tragedy at Grenfell Tower and the evidence from the UK and
around the world that these materials do not provide adequate protection for
the public.
"There is a lot
of confusion in the industry over what materials are, and should be, permitted
on both new buildings and in the retro-fitting of existing buildings. Banning
these materials is the first step towards restoring the trust in our regulatory
system and the building industry.”
The RIBA Expert
Group on Fire Safety set out four key recommendations for baseline prescriptive
requirements:
- Non-combustible cladding –
significant products in external wall construction for existing or new
buildings over 18m in height must be certified ‘non-combustible’ (European
classification A1) products only.
- More than one means of escape
– in all new multiple occupancy residential buildings, a requirement for
at least two staircases, offering alternative means of escape, where the
top floor is more than 11m above ground level or the top floor is more
than three storeys above the ground level storey (as required for
commercial buildings).
- Sprinklers – retro-fitting of
sprinklers / automatic fire suppression systems and centrally addressable
fire alarm systems to existing residential buildings above 18m from ground
level as ‘consequential improvements’ where a building is subject to
'material alterations'.
- Mandatory requirement for
sprinklers/automatic fire suppression systems and addressable central fire
alarms in all new and converted residential buildings, as already required
in Wales.
The key RIBA
recommendations to the MHCLG consultation are as follows:
- A ban on combustible
materials in external wall construction on buildings over 18m in height
must be imposed.
- Within external wall
construction, the ban should restrict sheathing boards, insulation and
outermost cladding products to European classification A1 products only.
The ban should not include the buildings primary structure. The primary
structure should have adequate fire protection (see Building Regulations
Requirement B3).
- The ban should restrict
window spandrels, balconies, brise soleil, and similar building elements
to European classification A1 products only
- The ban should restrict
plasterboard to European Classification A2-s1, d0 products and above only.
