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BRoof(t4) Regulations

Explore our comprehensive guide to navigating the post-Grenfell alterations in building regulations, particularly focusing on fire safety in roofing materials. We detail the transition from BS 476-3:2004 to BS EN 13501-5, explaining the rigorous BROOF(t4) to FROOF(t4) classification system. Discover valuable insights into understanding and navigating these intricacies, with emphasis on distinguishing between EN13501-1 and EN13501-5 ratings to ensures that your upcoming projects align with new legislation.

In the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, a pivotal moment in building safety regulation, the Independent Review of Building Regulations issued a report reviewing the Building Regulations 2010. The 2019 edition of Approved Document B brought along several changes, with a significant focus on the combustibility of cladding and decking described here (link). There were also changes affecting roofing, which also applies to terraces. The major change for roofs being that they no longer adhere to the national classification system BS 476-3:2004, but the European classification system BS EN 13501-5.

What is The New BS EN 13501-5 classification?

BS EN 13501-5 classification refers to four separate roof testing methods (DD CEN/TS 1187:2012). The suffix (t4) indicates that Test 4 is to be used, with BROOF(t4) indicating the best performance through to FROOF(t4) as the poorest.
Test 4 is very thorough, it establishes the external spread of the fire and penetration by fire, with the methodology including joists detail.
BROOF(t4)

BROOF(t4) To FROOF(t4)

The following classification system results:
  • BROOF(t4)
    • No penetration of roof system within 60 minutes
    • In preliminary test, after withdrawal of the test flame, specimens burn for less than 5 minutes
    • In preliminary test, flame spread less than 0.38 m across region of burning
  • CROOF(t4)
    • No penetration of roof system within 30 minutes
    • In preliminary test, after withdrawal of the test flame, specimens burn for less than 5 minutes
    • In preliminary test, flame spread less than 0.38 m across region of burning
  • DROOF(t4)
    • Roof system is penetrated within 30 minutes but is not penetrated in the preliminary test
    • In preliminary test, after withdrawal of the test flame, specimens burn for less than 5 minutes
    • In preliminary test, flame spread less than 0.38 m across region of burning
  • EROOF (t4)
    • Roof system is penetrated within 30 minutes but is not penetrated in the preliminary test
    • Flame spread is not controlled
  • FROOF (t4)
    • No performance determined

What Does This Mean For your Surface Finish?

Because the EN13501-5 test is an entire roof test it is not something as a surface finish EnviroBuild can conduct themselves, there are simply too many combinations.  The roofing materials manufacturers either test with nothing on the surface or with something known to be flammable such as wooden decking.  This can only be found on the test certificates from the manufacturer of the roof
In the instance where wooden decking is used then any of EnviroBuild’s product are fine to use, as they are all less combustible than wood.
In the instance where no surface product is used in the testing then the European Commission has a list of products which would comply depending upon the roof type. The relevant legislation is
here.  
Confusingly a profiled metal sheet as a roof, including coated aluminium is fine, but unfortunately that doesn’t mean aluminium decking is automatically compliant with BROOF(t4) in the instance of most terraces.  Instead most terraces are likely to fall under “Products likely to be covered in normal usage” - which means that to comply with the written legislation the most common method for automatic compliance is “Loose laid gravel with a thickness of at least 50mm or a mass of 80kg/m2 (minimum aggregate size 4mm, maximum 32mm) “
Because the legislation was written in 2000 before porcelain or aluminium decking was widely used, the other methods of automatic compliance on offer are usage of a 30mm screed or a 40mm concrete slab.

How does EN13501-5 relate to EN13501-1?

EN13501-5 and EN13501-1 are completely different tests.  The individual component ratings of A1 and A2 for products like porcelain and aluminium decking respectively from EN13501-1 are not related to the complete roof test that is EN13501-5. Similarly a B-rated deck board is not automatically compliant with EN13501-5 anymore than a C-rated or D-rated deck board under EN13501-1

How to Achieve BRoof(t4) Compliance



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