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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 18 July 2019, HCWS1757 on Building safety update, whether building owners should ensure that High Pressure Laminate panels of a European classification of Class C or D or European classification of Class B when combined with combustible insulation should be removed from buildings.

The Independent Expert Advisory Panel issued on 18 July 2019 an advice note with regards to the use of High Pressure Laminate (HPL) Panels 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

This advice note is clear that where materials achieving European classification of Class C or D or European classification of Class B when combined with combustible insulation are identified building owners should follow the advice in advice note 14.

The Expert Panel first issued Advice Note 14, in December 2017 and updated it in December 2018. This advice notes provides information to building owners with regards to external wall systems that do not incorporate Aluminium Composite Material (ACM). This advice notes has made it clear since its publication that where a system used on a building has not achieved a BS8414/BR135 classification building owners should seek immediate professional advice and consider remediation measures. The Expert panel has always been unequivocal that the clearest way to ensure safety is to remove unsafe materials. The Expert Panel continues to support this advice. Advice note 14 is available at

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/765761/Expert_Panel_advice_note_on_non-ACM.pdf