Looking back on Standard updates in 2015

After the recent update of BS 5534:2014 coming into to effect in March 2015, the Standard has now been amended and re-issued September 2015 as ‘BS 5534:2014+A1:2015 Slating and tiling for pitched roofs and vertical cladding – Code of practice’. This Standard has developed in order to meet new regulatory requirements and design standards as part of changes to UK Building Regulations, European Eurocodes and industry Technical Standards.

It is an essential tool for all designers and specifiers of tiles, slates, shingles and associated products for pitched roofs and vertical cladding. Throughout 2015 manufacturers have worked hard to inform and educate the roofing industry that the tensile strength of mortar alone is no longer sufficient to fix ridge, hip and verge tiles and that all require mechanical fixing, and all single lap tiles will now require to be mechanically fixed with clipping sometimes also required.

The Standard has also had a marked effect on the use and limitations of lightweight underlays that have become commonplace in recent years. The new guidelines are in response to increasingly higher theoretical wind uplift, to ensure they are securely installed to reduce ‘ballooning’ in the roof space and transferring loads on the underside of the roof covering.

The Standard is more focussed on achieving quality and sustainability in the design and development of pitched roofs and vertical cladding in an attempt to provide best practice across all aspects of sustainable building design. The latest edition incorporates many small detail changes and minor amendments including a full review and update of the Bibliography.

Reference is now made to a brand new Standard for dry fix roofing products for slate and tile roofs being in the course of preparation. As a responsible manufacturer of quality roofing products and accessories, Hambleside Danelaw is committed to supporting all efforts to improve the quality and reliability of roofing installations. Hambleside Danelaw aims to do this through designing and manufacturing products that are fit for purpose, durable for a wide range of applications and promoting best practice for their use.