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Mark Halliday, Divisional Façade and Technical Manager at ARBO, part of CARLISLE Construction Materials, discusses how the ARBOSHIELD Pro range helps specifiers deliver their new Building Safety Act obligations.
It may be 18 months since changes to the Building Safety Act (BSA) came into force, but confusion still remains about the implications for specifiers and contractors, and the obligations for every link in the delivery chain.
At CARLISLE we are supporting specifiers by working collaboratively with customers across our CARLISLE waterproofing and ARBO façades and sealants ranges to provide technical advice and clear and verifiable performance data. This helps deliver a more collaborative and accountable delivery chain, which forms a central part of the updated BSA’s. We have also published a handy guide to the legislation, specifically in relation to fire-resistant façades.
Changing obligations
A notable change to the BSA is the introduction of mandatory Duty Holders for every project –usually assigned to the Principal Designer and/or Principal Contractor – making them responsible for building safety. The Duty Holder may be penalised for non-compliance, so due diligence in verifying the performance capabilities of each specified product is essential, requiring an understanding of testing and certification, compatibility with other building materials used, and application suitability.
The legislation requires clear, verifiable project data; a ‘Golden Thread of Information’. This gives the project an audit trail from conception to completion, designed to ensure that the completed building can be effectively managed throughout its lifespan.
This requirement for accurate, relevant, and accessible information at all stages is intended to drive best practice specification and project delivery, elevate safety and performance standards in our built environment, and futureproof buildings by compelling those responsible to make informed and justifiable decisions when selecting materials. The goal is that specifiers will do more than achieve the minimum standards required for compliance, because they are accountable for the legacy of their choices in terms of performance and safety.
While much of the industry scrutiny regarding façade safety has been focused on cladding, the BSA requires that the complete façade build-up is subject to the same robust and informed decision making to underpin safety. The ARBOSHIELD Pro façade system from CARLISLE has been developed and tested as a cohesive, high-performing system, comprising an extensive group of products delivering Class A or B reaction to fire and W1 resistance to water penetration. Tested as a complete system, it provides total peace of mind for both end user and specifier that the building will be compliant with safety legislation, not only on completion, but also in the future as product development and regulations evolve.
Among the products within the ARBOShield Pro system is the ARBOSHIELD Pro External Perimeter Class A Membrane (EPAM), which ensures a neat, fire safe, compliant, and trusted installation on all window, door and façade structural openings.
Creating a watertight and airtight seal with certified fire resistance, the ARBOSHIELD Pro EPAM connects a concrete structural frame or steel frame to SFS sections and exceeds the current Building Regulation and Approved Document B requirements for a fire and weathertight seal, futureproofing the project. With a self-adhesive backing that bonds in temperatures as low as -40°C, it can also be used for applications such as weather sealing of parapet walls, and weatherproofing balcony details.
Prioritising Performance
While safety is always a priority, specifiers also have an obligation to select façade systems that will maximise performance as part of a robust building envelope specification. Selecting rigorously tested and compliant systems that combine performance with ease of installation is essential.
By simplifying the façade installation to improve buildability, the ARBOSHIELD Pro reduces the risk of errors, and the products work in combination to deliver airtight and waterproof details around windows and structural openings. In this way, the ARBOSHIELD Pro system contributes to long-term building performance and a more thermally efficient building.
For more information, use this QR code to download the whitepaper.
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