Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2019 to Question 262396, whether the Government provided information on the failed BS 8414 test to (a) fire authorities and (b) local authority building control departments across the UK.

We have provided information on non-Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) materials including High Pressure Laminates, to fire authorities, local authorities and building owners through the publication of Advice Note 14. Advice Note 14 was published in 2017 and updated in December 2018. The advice note provides a decision tree that directs them to seek professional help and consider remediation measures if they do not have the necessary evidence that a cladding system is safe. The full advice note reiterates that the clearest way to ensure safety is to remove the unsafe materials and is available at the following
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/765761/Expert_Panel_advice_note_on_non-ACM.pdf

Acting on advice from the Independent Expert Advisory Panel, the Government has commissioned research to support further understanding of the fire performance of non-ACM external wall systems, this includes a number of High Pressure Laminate systems of varying composition. The tests began on 30 April 2019 and we expect final results to be available by the Summer. The research findings will be published in due course. In addition, the Department commissioned the Fire Protection Association to carry out a large scale test (BS 8414) using High Pressure Laminate panels and stone wool insulation.