British Standards for Roofing

What Do BS 5534 & BS 6915 Cover?

British Standards for roofing provide an important technical framework for the design, specification and construction of roofing work.

They do not mean that every individual roofing material can simply be described as “BS compliant” in isolation. Correct performance depends upon the roof design, suitability of the materials, fixing specification, detailing and workmanship of the finished construction.

BS 5534

BS 5534:2014+A2:2018 is the principal code of practice for slating and tiling on pitched roofs and vertical cladding.

It addresses natural slate, roof tiles and associated components and considers matters including:

• roof pitch;
• site exposure and wind loading;
• slate and tile fixing;
• roofing battens;
• underlays and membranes;
• headlap and sidelap;
• ridge, hip and verge restraint; and
• durability of fixings and components.

BS 5534 is relevant to new roofing, normal re-roofing and repair work.

BS 6915

BS 6915:2001+A1:2014 provides recommendations for the design and construction of fully supported rolled lead sheet roof and wall coverings.

It is particularly relevant to traditional leadwork including:

• fully supported lead roofing;
• box and parapet gutters;
• valleys;
• weatherings;
• dormers;
• lead wall coverings; and
• other fully supported sheet-lead construction.

BS EN 12588

Rolled lead sheet used for building work is manufactured to BS EN 12588, which specifies characteristics including composition and dimensional tolerances.

BS 8000-6

BS 8000-6:2023 provides a code of practice relating to workmanship for slating and tiling of roofs and walls.

For a broader explanation of regulations, Approved Documents and technical standards affecting roofing work, read the GNR Roofing Regulations & British Standards guide.

Think of the roof as a complete system

BS 5534 is not simply a standard for the roof covering itself. A pitched roof relies on a number of interacting components.

When specifying a slate or tiled roof, consideration may need to be given to:

• Roof covering: natural slate, clay tile or other suitable covering
• Battens: correctly sized and graded roofing battens
• Fixings: appropriate nails, clips and mechanical restraint
• Underlay: suitable membrane or roofing underlay
• Exposure: wind loading and local site conditions
• Pitch: covering suitability and minimum recommended roof pitch
• Details: ridges, hips, verges, valleys and abutments

This is why buying a product described as suitable for roofing does not in itself make the completed roof compliant.

Roofing fixings matter

The material and method used to fix slate and tiles are fundamental to roof performance. Wind uplift, exposure, covering type and roof geometry can all influence the fixing requirement.

Browse our roofing fixings for copper slate nails and associated products.

Reclaimed materials and BS 5534

Reclaimed roofing materials can still form part of a properly designed modern roof.

The use of reclaimed slate or tiles does not remove the need to consider the requirements of the completed installation. Salvaged materials should be inspected and sorted for their intended reuse, while associated battens, fixings, membranes and detailing should be correctly specified.

This approach can be particularly valuable when working on:

• listed buildings;
• conservation areas;
• Victorian and Edwardian houses;
• traditional farm buildings;
• historic slate roofs; and
• properties where matching existing materials is important.

At The Reclaimed Company®, our role is particularly useful because we can supply the traditional reclaimed roof covering together with many of the new ancillary components required to return it to service.

BS 6915 and traditional leadwork

BS 6915 provides recommendations for the design and construction of fully supported rolled lead sheet roof and wall coverings.

Lead sheet remains one of the most important traditional roofing materials and is widely used for:

• chimney flashings;
• apron flashings;
• cover flashings;
• roof valleys;
• box gutters;
• parapet gutters;
• dormers;
• weatherings;
• lead roofs; and
• traditional heritage details.

BS EN 12588 rolled lead sheet

Rolled lead sheet used for building purposes is manufactured to BS EN 12588.

Correct leadwork specification also involves selecting the appropriate:

• lead code;
• sheet size;
• bay dimensions;
• laps;
• fixings;
• substrate;
• joint arrangement; and
• allowance for thermal movement.

The Reclaimed Company® stocks rolled lead sheet for roofing alongside slate, tiles and other ancillary roofing materials.

British Standards and reclaimed roofing

Meeting the requirements of a modern roof specification does not mean that traditional roofing materials automatically need to be discarded.

Where reclaimed slate, tiles and other roof coverings remain suitable for reuse, they may be incorporated into a properly designed repair or re-roofing project.

Reusing serviceable materials can also help:

• retain the appearance of traditional buildings;
• match existing roof coverings;
• preserve historic material;
• reduce unnecessary construction waste; and
• extend the working life of valuable natural materials.

Reclamation and modern ancillary materials

Our role as a reclamation yard allows us to bridge traditional materials and modern roofing practice.

A reclaimed slate roof, for example, may combine:

• reclaimed Welsh slate;
• new graded roofing battens;
• new copper slate nails;
• new breathable roofing membrane;
• new rolled lead sheet; and
• reclaimed chimney pots or other period details.

This allows useful historic material to remain in service while the wider roof specification is designed for modern performance requirements.