What is BS 5534 about?
BS 5534 is a British standard which is the first guidance of its kind in the market on slating and tiling for roofs and it sets out good practices in roof slating and tiling.
BS 5534 gives recommendations primarily intended for the design, performance and installation of new build pitched roofs, including vertical cladding, and for normal re-roofing work, including repairs, using slates, tiles, shingles and shakes and their associated components.
Note: The recommendations contained in this BS 5534 might not be appropriate for the re-slating or re-tiling of some old roofs, particularly where traditional and/or reclaimed materials are used. BS 5534 does not cover the structural design of the roof.
Who is BS 5534 for?
BS 5534 on Slating and tiling for roofs is useful for: 
- Installers of pitched roofing materials
- Manufacturers of pitched roofing materials
- Designers
- Roofing trade associations
Why should you use BS 5534?
A pitched roof is a roof that slopes downwards, typically in two parts at an angle from a central ridge, but sometimes in one part, from one edge to another.
BS 5534 provides us with a code of practice for slating and tiling for pitched roofs and vertical cladding which will help users comply with current regulations and industry standards, e.g:
- Building Regulations
- Competent Roofer – the Government-licenced scheme that allows professional roofing contractors to self-certify that their roof refurbishment work complies with building regulations within England and Wales
- NHBC Technical Standards – The National Housing Building Council is an independent regulator for the new homes industry and the largest single approved inspector of building regulations
With the use of BS 5534, you can ensure safety and reliability while slating and tiling pitched roofs and vertical cladding as it provides the best codes of practice.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS 5534:2014+A2:2018 supersedes BS 5534:2014+A1:2015, which is withdrawn.
BS 5534:2014+A2:2018 includes some technical changes with respect to BS 5534:2014+A1:2015. These are:
- Subclause 5.2 and Annex H, which deal with structural stability, have been revised to reflect new knowledge and experience on wind loads and uplift resistances of the roof covering and underlay, expressed in terms of the relevant Eurocodes for basis of structural design, enhanced safety factors, loads and resistances
- The worked examples of wind uplift and fixing calculations given in Annex K have been updated
- Wind uplift resistance of self-supporting underlays has been included. A pressure test (Annex A) has been introduced to determine the wind uplift resistance of underlays in order to determine their scope of application and classification
- Clause 6, which deals with application and design details has been revised, including references to workmanship, which are now covered in the 2013 revision of BS 8000-6
- Reliance on the tensile strength of mortar bedding to resist wind uplift has been withdrawn
