GRP Rooflights Confirmed for Use Under New Fire Classifications for England

The Rooflight Association (RA) has successfully campaigned to address a potential barrier to the specification of Glass Reinforced Polymer (GRP) rooflights on metal or fibre cement clad industrial buildings resulting from the withdrawal of the BS476 series of national fire classifications, to allow only the EN13501 standard – two days before the publication of the Final Grenfell Report on 2nd September 2024.

GRP rooflights are, in most cases, the only method of introducing natural daylight into these buildings, in a sector worth c£6 billion and with an annual new build/refurbishment footprint of approx. 24 million m2, so swift and decisive action was required.

The BS476 series are the fire standards that have for many decades been the established method of demonstrating compliance with the Approved Document B.

Unfortunately, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, (MHCLG), was not aware of the unintended negative consequences affecting the industrial building sector, and particularly GRP rooflights, despite this being included in several responses to the public consultation on the proposed changes to Approved Document B.

The situation was compounded by only allowing a 6-month transition period for most parts of the Standards, particularly the internal spread of flame test, where a suitable European test method for GRP does not exist. The potential consequence would have been to outlaw the use of GRP rooflights where there has been no increased fire risk to the building or the building occupiers.

Immediately, RA pulled together a response team and garnered support from other trade associations, culminating in a round of meetings with the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) to explain the potential crisis and the urgent need for action to provide certainty in the supply chain.

The BSR, together with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), were very keen to engage with the Rooflight Association to maintain the sustainability of large shed construction types, so that over the following months of intense communication, a solution was reached.

The result is the publication of two Frequently Asked Questions that sit alongside Approved Document B. The most pertinent for GRP rooflights is FAQ 8 which confirms that when tested to BS 2782-0, Method 508A, GRP that achieves a TP(a) rating, can continue to be used as a rooflight material in industrial and storage buildings. For more information, a link to the FAQ is here: Approved Document B; Fire safety - Frequently Asked Questions

The Rooflight Association’s revised QuickGuide 10EN explains the new requirements for fire performance compliance and can be downloaded here: Rooflight Association Quickguide 10EN.

Bob Richardson, Head of Technical and Training at NFRC, who contributed to the campaign, said,

"Following the Government’s announcement of the removal, from Approved Document B, of the BS 476 suite of National Fire Classification Standards there are now two Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that provide a route for compliance in accordance with the requirements of Approved Document B.

"The most pertinent for GRP rooflights is FAQ 8 which confirms that when tested to BS 2782-0, Method 508A GRP, that achieves a TP(a) rating, can still be used as a rooflight material in industrial and storage buildings.

 "Please ensure that any GRP rooflights that are to be specified and utilised on future projects can achieve this new classification."