In January 2022, the BSI published PAS 9980. PAS 9980:2022 is a code of practice which sets out a method for competent professionals to conduct Fire Risk Appraisals of External Wall construction (FRAEW) for existing multi-storey, multi-occupied residential buildings.
According to the UK government: “If you have buildings that have external walls that comprise only masonry or concrete construction, or in which combustible materials are limited to insulation within the cavity of double skin masonry walls you should consider whether you need to procure an FRAEW given that these systems will usually present an acceptable risk in terms of life safety.”
PAS 9980 provides a voluntary methodology for building owners to follow when conducting and recording FRAEWs. It also enables assessment of the risks associated with external fire spread in the context of the building's use, occupancy and fire safety arrangements, thus meaning the building is considered holistically.
Cladding systems which are supported by BS8414 test evidence and that meet the BR 135 benchmark, provided they are installed correctly, may under PAS 9980 be considered “low risk”; which can allow for K15 and the external cladding used to be retained upon a building subject to an appropriate fire engineering judgement.
There is presently a suite of successful large-scale BS 8414 tests, commissioned by Kingspan, of cladding systems which incorporate K15. They evidence the fact that multiple different cladding systems incorporating K15 can pass the test. This is critical information to help inform appropriate fire engineering judgements by suitably qualified building professionals.
To our knowledge, there are also other successful large-scale BS 8414 tests of systems incorporating K15 which were not commissioned by Kingspan Insulation.
As far as Kingspan Insulation is aware, no other rainscreen insulation has been used in so many different cladding systems that have successfully passed BS 8414 tests.
Please visit our Technical Support page if you have queries relating to the use of K15 on a high-rise residential building.