Introduction

Building Standards Scotland Domestic Technical Handbook states that materials which form part of an external wall shall be of the European Classifications set out in the document. For your convenience, we have outlined extracts from the technical handbook.

• Building Standards Scotland Domestic Technical Handbook.

• Refer to the full document here.

Building Standards Scotland Domestic Technical Handbook

Fire: Mandatory Standard 2.7 – Spread on external walls

2.7.0: There is a risk of fire spread on the external walls of a building … Therefore, the construction of external walls in taller buildings should not contribute to the development of fire or contribute to vertical fire spread up the facade of the building.  The 11m storey height in clause 2.7.1 and clause 2.7.2 is based on the reach capability of a fire and rescue service ground mounted water jet where there is sufficient pressure and flow in the water main.

0.8 Durability, workmanship and fitness of materials

Regulation 8

(3): Subject to paragraph (4), work must be carried out so that materials which form part of an external wall cladding system, or specified attachment, of a relevant building are of European Classification A2-s1, d0 or A1 …

(6): In this regulation-

6: “relevant building” means a building having a storey, or creating a storey (not including roof-top plant areas or any storey consisting exclusively of plant rooms) at a height of 11 metres or more above the ground and which contains-
a. a dwelling,
b. a building used as a place of assembly, or as a place of entertainment or recreation,
c. a hospital,
d. a residential care building or sheltered housing complex,
e. a shared multi-occupancy residential building.

6: “specified attachment” means-
a. a balcony,
b. solar shading,
c. a solar panel, attached to an external wall.

2.7.1 External wall cladding systems

External wall cladding systems attached to a domestic building or sheltered housing complex having any storey at a height of more than 11m above the ground, must be constructed of products which achieve European Classification A1 or A2, subject to some limited exceptions (see Regulation 8 and annex 2.B).

External wall cladding systems – means non load-bearing components attached to the buildings structure, for example, composite panels, clay or concrete tiles, slates, precast concrete panels, stone panels, masonry, profiled metal sheeting including sandwich panels, rendered external thermally insulated cladding systems, glazing systems, timber panels, weather boarding and ventilated cladding systems. For the purposes of compliance with the building regulations and associated standards, external wall cladding systems also include spandrel panels and infill panels.

2.7.2 Specified attachments

Where a relevant building has a storey at a height of 11m or more above the ground, specified attachments must be constructed of products achieving European Classification A1 or A2.

Where a building (other than a relevant building) has a storey at a height of 11m or more above the ground, specified attachments should also be constructed of products achieving European Classification A1 or A2.

Rytons A1^® Fire-rated Range