NFRC Warns of Rise in Counterfeit Roofing Battens Entering UK Market

THE NFRC and timber batten suppliers are warning roofing professionals of a rise in sub-standard battens entering the UK market.

The battens are being marked, coloured and sold as BS 5534 compliant when they are in fact counterfeit. These non-compliant goods are becoming an increasingly serious issue for merchants, roofing contractors and their clients, says NFRC.

Using non-compliant battens is in contravention to the guidelines set out in HSG33: Health and Safety in Roofwork and can lead to significant health and safety risks. It may also result in the contractor having to strip and re-roof a property should the battens be proven to be substandard.

Identifying Compliant Roofing Battens

BS 5534 states that all graded roofing battens should be marked with the following elements:

• Suppliers’ details
• Batten size
• Species
• Relevant Standard (in this case BS 5534)
• Third-party certification

All battens should be individually marked. However, marking alone is not proof that the batten has been graded correctly or that it is of the correct standard.

NFRC has published a safety alert highlighting guidance for operatives and managers on how to check that the battens they are receiving are complaint. Download the ‘Substandard roofing battens’ safety alert here.

A toolbox talk has also been produced with advice on what you need to know before and during the installation of roofing battens.

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