Suspected False Markings on Roofing Battens Prompt Renewed NFRC Warning

The origin of the products and the circumstances surrounding their marking have not yet been established. However, the images raise concerns that the battens may have been presented as graded to BS 5534 when their identification markings suggest otherwise. 

Products carrying questionable markings should be treated as potentially non-compliant until their grading, documentation and traceability have been verified. They should not be installed while concerns remain. 

Why This Matters 

Substandard roofing battens are more than a product-quality issue. They may create risks for operatives during installation and affect the performance and durability of the completed roof. 

When roofing battens are used as footholds during roof covering, this must form part of a properly planned and supervised safe system of work. HSE guidance states that battens might provide a reasonably secure foothold only where specified requirements for their grade, dimensions, span, length and fixing have been met. 

Operatives should work on the rafter line and should not deliberately step on battens mid-span between supports. 

Battens containing excessive knots, wane, fissures, decay, insect attack or other unacceptable defects may not provide the strength expected. Substandard dimensions or defects may also make it difficult to secure adequate mechanical fixings and provide the required support to the tiles or slates. 

Even factory-graded battens can be damaged during transport, storage or installation. All battens should therefore be checked for obvious defects and damage before use. 

Markings Must Not Be Accepted in Isolation 

Battens supplied as graded in accordance with BS 5534:2014+A2:2018 should be clearly and indelibly marked to identify: 

• The supplier responsible for grading the battens. 
• The origin or timber species. 
• The basic size. 
• Grading in accordance with BS 5534. 

Where third-party certification is provided, the relevant quality mark may also be included. However, third-party certification is recommended industry best practice and is not itself a requirement of BS 5534. 

Colour is not proof that a batten has been graded correctly. Labels or stickers attached only to a bundle are not a substitute for the required marking on each individual batten. 

Importantly, markings alone do not prove that a batten has been correctly graded. If the condition, dimensions or visible quality of the timber conflict with the information shown on the marking or accompanying documentation, the batten should not be used until the discrepancy has been investigated. 

NFRC recommends completing the following checks before roofing battens are installed. 

1. Check the dimensions 

A batten with a nominal thickness of 25 mm should measure between 25 mm and 28 mm and must never be less than 25 mm thick. 

Visible variations in thickness within a pack may indicate substandard material and should be investigated. 

2. Check visible knots and defects 

Check knots on both wide faces of the batten. When measured at their widest points, the combined width of opposing knots should not exceed the width of the batten. 

Battens should also be checked for excessive wane, fissures, distortion, split ends or damage that may have occurred after grading. 

3. Check every individual marking 

Each batten should be individually and indelibly marked with the required identification information. Do not rely solely on the colour of the timber, a bundle label or an apparently familiar product marking. 

4. Check for deterioration 

Battens graded to BS 5534 should not contain rot, decay or signs of insect infestation. If any of these are present, do not use the affected battens and report the concern immediately. 

5. Check the delivery documentation 

Each delivery should be accompanied by documentation stating at least: 

• The name of the supplier responsible for grading the battens, rather than only the distributor. 
• The origin or timber species. 
• Confirmation that the battens have been graded in accordance with BS 5534:2014+A2:2018. 
• The basic size or sizes. 
• The type of preservative and method of treatment, where applicable. 

Where preservative treatment or third-party certification is specified or claimed, the relevant supporting documentation should also be checked. 

NFRC Guidance 

NFRC has two publications available to help businesses identify, purchase and use correctly graded roofing battens. 

Technical Bulletin TB33: Graded Battens for Slating and Tiling 

TB33 provides detailed technical guidance covering: 

• BS 5534 grading requirements. 
• Permissible timber characteristics and defects. 
• Minimum batten sizes and dimensional tolerances. 
• Identification, marking and delivery documentation. 
• Preservative treatment and moisture content. 
• Safe use and inspection before installation. 

Toolbox Talk TBT01: Checking for Substandard Roofing Battens 

TBT01 provides a practical site briefing based around five simple checks: 

• Dimensions. 
• Knots and visible defects. 
• Individual batten markings. 
• Rot, decay and insect attack. 
• Delivery documentation. 

The Toolbox Talk can be delivered directly to site teams and includes photographs and diagrams showing what operatives should look for. 

These publications should be used alongside BS 5534, HSE guidance and the appropriate project-specific risk assessment and safe system of work. 

Checks Are Required Throughout the Supply Chain 

Manufacturers, importers, distributors, merchants, purchasers and contractors should undertake the checks and due diligence appropriate to their role. 

Purchasers and contractors may receive material that appears legitimate and has passed through familiar supply routes. Nevertheless, a familiar colour, marking, supplier or bundle label should not override visible concerns about the quality or traceability of the product. 

Those specifying and purchasing roofing battens should clearly require material graded and documented in accordance with BS 5534. Delivery documentation should be retained as part of the project records. 

What to Do if Battens Appear Suspicious 

If a roofing batten appears substandard or its markings or documentation raise concerns: 

• Do not install it. 
• Quarantine the affected material. 
• Photograph the individual markings, bundle labels, packaging and visible defects. 
• Retain the delivery note and accompanying grading or treatment documentation. 
• Record the supplier, delivery date, quantities and any relevant batch information. 
• Report the concern to the supervisor or contracts manager. 
• Contact the supplier and request evidence of grading and traceability. 
• Notify NFRC so that the information can be reviewed and, where appropriate, shared with the relevant authorities. 

NFRC will continue working with contractors, manufacturers, merchants, industry partners and regulators to raise awareness and support the removal of falsely marked and substandard products from the roofing supply chain. 

Further guidance is available through NFRC Technical Bulletin TB33, Graded Battens for Slating and Tiling, and Toolbox Talk TBT01, Checking for Substandard Roofing Battens. 

For further advice, contact NFRC at [email protected].