How LKAB Minerals supports Building Safety Act compliance
The Building Safety Act (BSA) represents one of the most significant changes to the UK construction sector in recent decades. Introduced in response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the Act aims to strengthen accountability, improve the safety of higher-risk buildings, and ensure that everyone involved in the supply chain meets higher standards.
While the headlines often focus on cladding and fire doors, the Building Safety Act has far-reaching implications for construction materials, including mineral products like fire retardants, screeds, and coatings. Here’s how LKAB Minerals helps developers, contractors, and specifiers stay compliant and deliver safer buildings.
1. Understanding the Building Safety Act’s requirements
The Building Safety Act 2022 places a clear responsibility on duty holders such as designers, contractors, and building owners, to ensure that buildings meet strict safety standards throughout their lifecycle. This includes:
- Specifying compliant materials: Products must meet relevant fire and structural performance standards.
- Traceability: All materials must have clear records showing their source, technical specifications, and performance data.
- Golden Thread of Information: A digital record must exist for each building, including full product documentation for inspections and future refurbishments.
- Competence and accountability: Clear lines of responsibility must be shown for all decisions, including why certain materials were chosen.
2. The role of minerals in building safety
While metals, composites, and engineered timber get a lot of attention, minerals also play a vital part in fire performance, structural integrity, and compliance. Some key examples include:
Fire protection:
- FireCarb : Used in fire-rated coatings, passive fire protection boards, and intumescent seals. When exposed to high temperatures, it expands to form a protective barrier that slows fire spread.
Structural products:
- Gypsol liquid screeds: Offer predictable performance for modern flooring systems in multi-storey buildings.
- Andricite : An alternative binder for screeds and renders with excellent thermal stability.
3. Certified traceability and testing
One of the biggest risks to compliance is poor documentation. LKAB Minerals provides full traceability for every shipment, with certificates of analysis that include:
- Source information: Where and how the mineral was extracted.
- Key performance data: Particle size, thermal stability, fire performance.
- Batch testing: Independent testing to confirm performance claims.
- Environmental responsibility credentials: To align with ESG reporting.
Our technical team works with contractors and specifiers to provide the right documentation that integrates seamlessly into their project records and compliance processes.
4. Supporting responsible sourcing
Beyond technical performance, the BSA encourages the use of responsibly sourced materials. LKAB Minerals operates under strict environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards, from responsible mining practices to transparent supply chains. This helps project teams demonstrate compliance not just with the BSA, but with wider ESG commitments.
5. Collaboration and advice
Compliance can feel daunting. LKAB Minerals doesn’t just supply minerals, we support project teams with:
- Technical data sheets and fire test reports
- Advice on product substitution if specifications change
- CPD training for specifiers and contractors
- On-site technical support for screed and render applications
The Building Safety Act sets higher expectations for everyone involved in designing and constructing buildings. With stricter rules on fire performance, traceability, and accountability, the pressure to get it right has never been greater.
By choosing certified, responsibly sourced minerals, backed by documentation and technical expertise, you can protect your project, your stakeholders, and the people who will live and work in the buildings you help create. Contact LKAB Minerals’ technical team today to discuss fire protection minerals, certified screeds, or tailored documentation support for your next project. You can also follow us on LinkedIn for the latest updates, case studies, and product releases!
