Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to Ministerial Statement, Building safety update, HCWS1757, whether the British Standard 8414 test on Class B, fire retardant, high pressure laminate rainscreen with a non-combustible rock fibre insulation carried out by the Fire Protection Association on behalf of his Department was only carried out once in June and July 2019.

A single large test was completed on 11 July 2019 in accordance with BS 8414, the details of the test report and classification of the system are available at :

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-test-report-mhclg-bs-8414-hpl

Based on the information in this test the Independent Expert Advisory Panel also issued an advice note to Building Owners which is available at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/818184/Advice_note_on_use_of_HPL_panels_in_external_wall_systems.pdf

The Fire Protection Association had previously attempted to undertake the large scale test in June, however due to a procedural issue the test was not completed in accordance with the requirements BS 8414. It was agreed with the Independent Expert Advisory Panel that there was no cause for immediate concern and no advice could have been issued on the basis of the attempt.