Mr. Eoin O'Dowd:

The provisions of Technical Guidance Document B 2024 give certain thresholds for certain precautions to take effect following on from the publication of the regulations themselves in the second schedule. For specific buildings – this includes all buildings with floor height over 15 m – the whole external wall build-up, including any insulating products within it, has to meet the minimum reaction to fire classification of class A2, which can only be achieved by following a robust series of tests termed the European classification system. It is consistent throughout the 27 EU member states.

For buildings below these thresholds, the external wall make-up is permitted to have a reaction to fire classification in keeping with the current guidance. However, at height, the general products that may be found in the external wall have to meet that classification, or where a full-scale destructive test has been carried out in past to specific characteristics, which is limitation of flame spread in a given a period of time. Then that system, but only that tested and certified system, may be placed on a facade.