Is Metal Cladding Fire-Safe? UK Building Regulations Explained

When looking to choose a metal cladding system for your site, there are a lot of different factors to weigh up. 

There’s durability and lifespan, as well as appearance and ease of maintenance, just to name a few. 

But, one critical factor to consider is fire performance. In fact, in recent years, the importance of fire performance has increased even further. 

This is due to recent changes to UK building regulations. Now, architects, developers and building owners all need to give far greater consideration to how external wall systems will perform in the event of a fire.

Generally speaking, most metal cladding is fire-safe. In fact, many metal cladding systems offer excellent fire performance. 

However, it’s important to consider the overall fire safety performance of the system as a whole. This will depend on the materials used, how the system has been designed and the quality of its installation.

In this article, we’ll explain how metal cladding fits into current UK fire safety regulations, and what is required for a system to be safe and compliant.

What do UK building regulations require?

The rules surrounding external wall systems have changed significantly in recent years.

In 2018, changes were introduced which meant that buildings over 18 metres tall are subject to much stricter fire performance requirements for their external wall materials.

UK building regulations require materials used within these building systems to achieve an A1 or A2-s1,d0 fire classification. This is under EN 13501-1 (specifies products that are classified as non-combustible or of limited combustibility).

This threshold sits at the heart of the Building Safety Act 2022’s Higher-Risk Building regime. 

The intent of this legislation is to reduce the risk of fire spreading through external wall systems, by ensuring only appropriate, fire-safe materials are used.

Furthermore, fire safety building regulations are evolving all the time. 

For instance, further updates to Approved Document B are due to come into force from 30 September 2026. This will further tighten safety requirements for buildings.

Architects, developers and building owners must carefully review each project on a case-by-case basis, to ensure the intended cladding system fully complies with the latest regulations.

Which metal cladding materials meet these requirements?

Thankfully, many of the most common metals used for roofing and cladding are naturally non-combustible.

This includes metals such as:

• Zinc
• Copper
• Aluminium
• Stainless steel

These widely feature in metal cladding, thanks to their excellent durability and dependable fire safety.

At Salmon Solutions, these are the core materials in our metal cladding range, and these cladding types routinely clear this fire safety bar. This is because these metals are all inherently non-combustible and routinely achieve A1 or A2-s1,d0. 

This is unlike composite panels and timber systems, which have been restricted under the latest regulations (for specific building types and heights).

Considering the whole system

However, it’s important to note that not every cladding system performs in the same way, and that fire safety isn’t just determined by the metal skin used. 

Fire safety assessments must consider the full assembly of the system.

This includes:

• The metal cladding panels
• Insulation materials
• Support rails and fixings
• Cavity barriers
• The substrate and internal wall construction

So, specifying the material used for the cladding is just the first step.  

All of these elements must be tested and certified, as each contributes to the overall fire performance of the system. 

In addition to choosing a non-combustible metal, the way the system is designed, tested and installed are all factors that are assessed as part of regulatory compliance. 

It’s also important to remember that every project is different. This article provides general guidance only, and it shouldn’t be used as a substitute for project-specific fire risk assessments or building control sign-off.

This is why it’s so valuable to work with an experienced installer, who understands exactly what is required to achieve full-system compliance. 

Compliant metal cladding systems from Salmon Solutions

At Salmon Solutions, we supply and install premium quality metal roofing and cladding systems, for commercial and domestic projects across the UK.

Our product range includes zinc, copper, aluminium and stainless steel cladding, installed by an experienced, fully qualified and accredited team. 

With our guidance, you can ensure an elegant, dependable and fully compliant result for your project. 

To enlist our professional team to support your project, don’t hesitate to get in touch.