Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) why the new Building Regulations allow the use of impregnated woods for external walls, whether painted or not, but permit the use of unimpregnated woods for windows and doors; and whether he will amend the Regulations in that connection to allow the greater use of suitable painted timber for external cladding purposes;
(2) whether he is aware that Regulation B3 of the Building Regulations 1965 lays down that the painting or coating of materials must not be taken into account in connection with their weather-resisting capabilities, and while ruling out the use of painted timbers for external walls, permits the use for such purposes of steel coated with galvanised zinc, vitreous enamel or bitumen; and whether he will reconsider the prohibition imposed on the use of painted timber for external walls.
§ Mr. MacCollThe provisions in the building regulations relating to the use302W of painted timber for external cladding have recently been considered by the Ministry and the Building Regulations Advisory Committee, and proposals for amendment of these provisions will later be circulated to the bodies concerned for comment. One minor amendment—the addition of a further species of timber which may be used unimpregnated—was included in the amending regulations laid before the House on 13th November.
§ Sir W. Bromley-Davenportasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether the list of materials set out in Regulation B 3 of the Building Regulations, 1965 as being materials unsuitable for external walls or roofs of buildings is comprehensive; and whether any materials not listed therein are regarded as not being unsuitable and may therefore be used.
§ Mr. MacCollThe list of materials in Regulation B 3 is comprehensive for the purposes of Section 53 of the Public Health Act, 1936, which has special reference to materials specified as unsuitable for use in the construction of permanent buildings. But this does not limit Regulation B 1 which is concerned with the fitness of any materials used in building.