§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on test procedures for the evaluation of the reaction to fire of construction products. [40748]
§ Mr. ClappisonThe test procedures at present in British standards and which are used to determine the reaction to fire properties of construction products for regulatory purposes are likely to be replaced by a set of new harmonised European test methods as part of the process of enabling the single market in such products. Several dozen different test methods are in use throughout the EU and it is proposed that these should be replaced by five new procedures now under development under the auspices of the European Commission and in CEN. the European standards organisation. Fire experts from the UK are taking an active part in this process.