Gainsborough-based John Brash, which is running the Take It as Red campaign to promote the benefits of BS5534: 2014 (the latest standard for slating and tiling), updated local MP John Mann about timber roofing products and the need for conformity to legislation during his recent visit to the firm.
Mr Mann’s then raised the issue in a House of Commons debate, referring to a “lacklustre adoption of BS5534:2014”. Secretary of state for communities and local government James Wharton MP responded by reminding the roofing and housebuilding industry of the requirement to conform to building regulations.
“Building regulations require that building work is carried out with adequate and proper materials which are appropriate for the circumstances in which they are used,” said the minister.
“Building control bodies are responsible for checking compliance as with any other building regulations requirements. In addition, if a building material is covered by a harmonised European standard, the requirements of the European Construction Products Regulation will apply.
This regulation is enforced by local authorities.”
John Brash chairman Christian Brash welcomed the minister’s comments. “BS5534:2014 brings together some of the most significant changes in the roofing industry during the past 50 years and has set new, higher standards – which can only be good for UK house building,” said Mr Brash.
“However, we are very concerned that there are parts of our industry that are resistant to the new rules, and this is leaving the door open to substandard and in some cases fraudulent timber roofing battens.”
The company’s Take It as Red campaign (John Brash’s premium roof batten is called JB-RED) has so far seen the distribution of more than 30,000 copies of a bite-sized guide to the new standard.
The standard stipulates that roofing battens can no longer be graded on site and the product had to be of a clear tolerance limit for depth of +3mm/-0mm and at least 25mm deep.
All battens must also be stamped with information identifying the origin, size, supplier and conformance to BS 5534, while paperwork must identify the type of preservative and method of treatment.
