Combustible external wall cladding systems: extending the ban to hotels, boarding houses and hostels

Executive Summary

This report covers Phase 1 and Phase 2 of a study into extending the ban of combustible external wall cladding systems to hotels, boarding houses and hostels in Scotland for buildings with a habitable storey at a height of 11 metres or more above the ground.

Data from the Incident Recording System (IRS) for the property types of interest and any associated fatalities and injuries, were reviewed during Phase 1. The findings from the IRS study identified fatality and injury incidents warranting further investigation. Fire Investigation (FI) reports covering six fatalities and Post Fire Audit (PFA) reports covering six serious injuries and 49 slight injuries reported for the sub- type property categories of interest, were requested for the Phase 2 study.

Details of the three (FI) reports (covering the six fatalities) and five PFA reports (covering five injuries) were reviewed, during Phase 2, and there was no evidence that any of the injuries or fatalities were due to cladding.

A review of Regulatory Impact Assessments for England and Wales was performed and the implications of this for Scotland, were considered. The finding from this review was that whilst both Regulatory Impact Assessments identified possible benefits, the risk reductions were not quantified or monetised. It is not possible to undertake a full cost benefit analysis given the lack of a monetised benefit.