26th February 2016
James Wharton, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, has warned UK roofers of their obligations under current building regulations to use 'adequate and proper' roofing materials, following concerns raised by John Mann, MP for Bassetlaw.
Roofing materials manufacturers have echoed concerns about imported materials that do not comply with the standards, some investing hundreds of thousands of pounds in new manufacturing technology.
The warnings come as a welcome reminder to roofing contractors who do use compliant materials, and who simply cannot compete during the tender and quotation processes with roofers who are using cheaper, lower quality materials. It is an issue that is resounding through the roofing community.
The use of non-genuine roofing materials is often a false economy, and is a problem that reaches throughout the construction industry. Householders are tempted by lower prices, understandably so, but fail to realise the longer-term implications of using contractors that are installing poor quality materials, particularly in the case of flat roofing membranes, which are sold on the basis that they will outperform traditional materials.
As in the case of Firestone EPDM RubberCover membrane - genuine membrane is expected to have a lifespan of more than 50 years. The single-ply roofing sector is flooded with fake EPDM, and at first glance, unless you know what to look for, it appears genuine. Raised standards in the construction industry can only be a good thing, and now is the time to clamp down on fraudulent traders and suppliers.
Permaroof UK Ltd is the largest importer and supplier of genuine Firestone EPDM RubberCover membranes and associated materials in the country, and fully support the use of genuine roofing materials. We urge contractors to make sure they buy from reputable suppliers. Failure to adhere to building regulations can result in significant fines and, in the most extreme cases, a prison sentence.