Achieving Fully Compliant Roofing Specifications with IKO

Keeping up to date with the latest legislation is vitally important for building surveyors say IKO. Unfortunately however, you won’t always hear about changes to legislation, hence why IKO is here to advise on providing a fully compliant specification.

Building Regulations (Part L) – Thermal Properties

Recent amendments to Part L of the Building Regulations means that all new tenants or tenants renewing or extending their lease in private rented accommodation must be offered a property that meets or exceeds Energy Performance Certificate Level E. From 2020, the regulations will tighten further to include all existing tenants in the private rented sector. This means that it is vitally important to consider the impact of what type of insulation you are using, regardless of whether you are working on a new roof or a roof refurbishment.

Before specifying any roofing material, first ensure it is suitable for the roof structure. It is vitally important to check the thermal performance – does the material meet the latest U-values, which are currently 0.11 W/m²K for pitched or flat roofs in domestic new builds, 0.16 for pitched (ceiling level) roofs and 0.18 for flat roofs.

Building Regulations (Part B) – Fire Protection

Following the heightened awareness of fires within buildings and on roofs, clients are becoming increasingly aware of the need to use materials with appropriate fire protection (covered under Part B of the Building Regulations). Questions are now being asked on whose responsibility it is to ensure buildings are safe and who should be accountable if things go wrong.

The building surveyor therefore has a key role in ensuring the specified products are fit for purpose. This includes confirming the manufacturer can verify their products are safe for use under the specific conditions of the roofing build-up and have the accredited certification (such as Broof(t4) – meaning it can be used unrestricted on the roof).

Speaking to other surveyors who have used the same products in the same environment will give you a good idea of the system’s performance and help you decide whether it might be suitable for your current project.

Safety on-site is paramount. Whilst not a legal requirement, the NRFC’s ‘Safe 2 Torch’ campaign helps promote safe working practices when it comes to roof installation. The NFRC has provided a handy Safe2Torch Checklist to be completed prior to any roofing works being undertaken.

British Standards – Flat Roofing Materials

It is also essential to be aware of British Standards, in particular BS 6229 (Flat roofs with continuously supported flexible waterproof coverings: Code of practice). A review of BS 6229 is currently underway and the revised draft is out for public consultation – so changes to the current standard should be expected to come into effect before the end of the year. We know it can be difficult to keep up with what feels like ever-changing regulations which is why IKO is here to help – we’ll let you know of the changes you need to be aware of as soon as they are announced.\

Construction (Design and Management) Regulations – Managing Risk

Finally, there are the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations which were last updated in 2015. Although there are not any planned changes to this legislation at present, the key tasks governed by the regulations – identifying, eliminating or controlling foreseeable risks and ensuring designers carry out their duties are becoming increasingly relevant as clients focus their attention on health and safety risks. As the roofing design should comply in accordance with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations, including the ongoing obligations of maintenance, a responsible product manufacturer should be able to consistently monitor a projects Health and Safety performance, giving the client assurance that all contractors will comply.

Following all these regulations may sound daunting, but IKO can help you produce specifications that are fully compliant with all the latest legislation. Our specialist knowledge can help you feel at ease, especially on complex builds, so leave it with IKO to help you get the job done right, first time.

You can download the information via this link

IKO PLC (Head Office), 
Appley Lane North,

Appley Bridge,
Wigan,
WN6 9AB,
United Kingdom

Phone: 01257 255 771
Fax: 01257 252 514
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @ikoplc

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