Private sector buildings must have a clear timetable for the remediation of unsafe aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding by the end of 2019, or owners will face enforcement, the housing secretary has said.
In a written statement to parliament, James Brokenshire said he expected the removal of unsafe ACM by June 2020. Brokenshire highlighted the fact that remediation in the private sector has been slow, which has motivated the government to announce a £200m fund to unblock progress.
He also confirmed that planning permission may not be required where the external appearance of a building is not materially altered by new cladding.
Brokenshire announced the results of a series of recent fire tests, conducted in accordance with British Standard 8414. A cladding system consisting of a Class B, fire retardant, high pressure laminate rainscreen with a non-combustible rock fibre insulation met the relevant pass criteria. Meanwhile, all timber fire doors tested met the required 30-minute fire performance standard.
