Equitone fibre cement facade material has passed the BS 8414 fire safety test – further securing its position as being safe to use in high-rise and high-risk buildings.
The rigorous test, which was sponsored by TENMAT Ltd, evaluates whether a cladding system that is subjected to a fire breaking out of an opening in an external wall will result in excessive fire spread up the outside of the building – creating a risk of the blaze re-entering the building at a higher level.
BS 8414 tests are conducted in specialist laboratories and involve building a 9m high model wall, covering it in a cladding system and starting a fire at the bottom. It is important to note that the classification applies solely to the complete external facade system that has been tested.
All Equitone materials comprehensively meet the fire performance classification A2-s1,d0 to EN 13501-1:2018 – meaning they do not contribute to the formation or spread of a fire. Equitone [natura] was the material used during the BS 8414 test and further reinforces Equitone's long-standing commitment to ensuring its materials are safe and suitable to use.
Martin Smithurst, technical manager at Equitone, said: "Building material combustibility is a key focal point during the specification stage so we are delighted that Equitone [natura] has passed the BS 8414 test, which strengthens its position as a robust material that does not contribute to the formation or spread of a fire.
"The BS 8414 test is designed to simulate the response to a fire spilling out of a window – exposing the external facade to the fire to see how it spreads. It provides a rigorous assessment of cladding systems. As Equitone has passed the test, it is officially classified as being safe to use in high-rise and high-risk buildings.
"When choosing facade materials that need to meet the demands of the current fire performance requirements, our dedicated technical and specification team can offer expert support to architects, designers and contractors – from the initial design concept through to build completion and beyond."
All Equitone materials have a life expectancy of at least 50 years and are available in a range of colours, finishes and fixing options, giving full creative scope.
Construction News
20/02/2020
Equitone Cladding Passes Official Fire Safety Test


02/07/2025
Construction is officially underway on the new Whitefield Community Fire Station, part of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service's (GMFRS) £38 million Estates Improvement Programme.
Led by Robertson Construction North West, the project will replace the former fire station on Bury New Road with

02/07/2025
Hull City Council has officially appointed Esh Construction to lead a major repair and strengthening programme on Drypool Bridge, one of the city's key transport links.
The project will be delivered in partnership with engineering consultancy Mason Clark Associates.
Work will begin on the south s

02/07/2025
Award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group has announced record financial results for the year ending 31 March 2025, marking its second consecutive year of historic growth.
The company reported a turnover of £1.15 billion and a pre-tax profit of £90.5 million, completing more than 2,800 new homes a

02/07/2025
Women in Construction Anglia (WICA) and Suffolk Chamber of Commerce have voiced strong support for the government's new plans to increase the construction workforce by 100,000 people annually.
The announcement follows the launch of the first Construction Skills Mission Board, attended by Work and P

02/07/2025
Huddersfield Station will undergo a significant upgrade this autumn as part of the multi-billion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU), with a full 30-day closure scheduled from Saturday 30 August to Sunday 28 September 2025.
The closure represents a major milestone in the delivery of a faster, gr

02/07/2025
Procurement Hub, part of Places for People (PfP), has confirmed a two-year extension of its flagship Major Projects Framework 2 (MPF2), extending its term until 2028 after achieving more than £300 million in social value since its launch in 2022.
Designed to deliver a more efficient, equitable, and

02/07/2025
Two Galliford Try employees have received commendations at this year's British Ex-Forces in Business Awards, recognising their outstanding contributions and leadership within the construction industry after transitioning from military service.
Pam McNeill, Business Assurance Manager for Galliford T

02/07/2025
The government has announced a landmark £39 billion investment to deliver around 300,000 new social and affordable homes across the UK over the next decade, in a major bid to tackle the housing crisis and provide secure housing for families and children stuck in temporary accommodation.
Under the n

02/07/2025
Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is one of the most dangerous gases found in industrial environments.
Colourless, highly toxic, and often referred to as the "silent killer", it's particularly hazardous because it can quickly deaden the sense of smell, giving workers a false sense of security.
Even a

02/07/2025
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has welcomed the Construction Leadership Council's (CLC) new Health, Safety and Wellbeing Strategy, describing it as a much-needed step toward driving change across the construction industry.
FMB Chief Executive Brian Berry joined over 140 industry leaders at