Slates - no more grey areas

The change from the British Standard BS 680 to European Standard BS EN 12326-1 and -2 has resulted in a need for the user or specifier to specify what level of performance and durability they want.

NHBC has been working with the industry to establish what should be the minimum specification to meet with NHBC standards to ensure the product has acceptable durability.
Under BS EN 12326 consignments of slates should now have an “accompanying commercial document (ACD)” from the producer/supplier indicating the slate’s performance.

For compliance with NHBC standards a slate should achieve an A1, S1 and T1 code and should also carry the CE marking certification on every pallet :

• Water Absorption
For compliance should be no greater than 0.6%
i.e. A1 code.

• Carbonate content
High carbon content can cause colour changes and
potential for accelerated erosion. For compliance
should achieve S1 code.

• Thermal Cycle
This is a test for reactive metallic minerals within the slate,
which may cause staining, pitting and/or delamination
and potential failure of the slate. A T2 slate may rust and
a T3 slate will most certainly rust.
For compliance should achieve a T1 code.