Update to EWCL5 Certificate No. ME 5101

Update to Certificate EWCL5 No. ME 5101: May 21st, 2021

We would like to clarify the situation regarding the above which covers voluntary third-party certification for Siderise RH and Siderise RV products.

As you may be aware, several testing and certification bodies have been re-examining previously issued certificates in the wake of the recent tragic and significant fire events, amid concerns that their initial review of evidence may not have been thorough enough.

Subsequent to such a review, WarringtonFire (WF) advised that they felt it more appropriate to split the current certification for the RH horizontal open state cavity barriers and RV vertical full fill cavity barriers into two different certificates and that they wished us to also carry out some additional testing for minimum void applications on the horizontal products. The reasoning behind this is: -

• The current certificate combines both products but, strictly speaking, each range needs to be certified to applicable performance standards;
• The current certificate refers to the performance of products tested to the widest voids in each category, which to date had satisfied their certification requirements;

For context, the certificate was originally issued on 24 October 2018 being valid until 23 October 2023. WF acknowledged in a meeting on 23^rd February 2021 that they had devised the original test program, and granted the certification, which was updated in both February and March 2019 (to add additional sizes) without issue, and that this “smallest void” test was a new request that they had previously not requested or required to support the certification.

We agreed to undertake the additional smaller void testing and WF confirmed in writing that they would update our certificate once the testing was complete, which both parties recognised would take time due to chronic shortage of testing availability. We were therefore very surprised that, without warning, WF decided to suspend our certificate on 8^th March, subsequently amended to “suspended – pending review”.

We have now successfully completed some  of the requested smaller void tests. We are now looking to increase the scope of ‘minimum void’ testing to include options for testing with both non-combustible and combustible thermal insulation. Due to a lack of testing capacity, this extended test program will now take a little more time to complete. Whilst awaiting remaining tests to be undertaken, WF have agreed that they will reinstate our certificates for 1) all vertical barriers and 2) horizontal barriers at maximum void sizes. We are expecting this imminently. Once all required tests are completed, our certificate for the horizontal barriers will then be updated to show the full range.

In the meantime, our cavity barriers’ functionality, testing evidence and fitness for purpose remains unaffected by this procedural issue, and the product is legally and safely on the market with all rights and protections that existed prior to the certificate’s suspension. You may continue to specify, purchase and install the products without issue or concern.

A copy of the ME 5101 certificate, as revised 7th March 2019, is available via the Siderise website, under Product Resources and Approvals. All supporting data remains valid, and all performance claims and maximum application limits remain unchanged and unaffected.

As always at Siderise, our integrity is paramount, and we wish to be open and transparent about all matters relating to testing and safety and apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. We confirm that we are working as fast as possible to satisfy the new voluntary requirements given to us at short notice by WF.

Should you have any further questions regarding this matter, please direct them to approvals@Siderise.com.