The RIBA has rejected government proposals to strengthen rules governing the use of controversial desktop studies to demonstrate the fire performance of cladding systems and has called for these to be banned.

Desktop studies are used to model changes to cladding specifications that have passed full-scale fire tests. These are used to demonstrate proposed cladding systems comply with Part B, the building regulation covering fire safety. The Hackitt interim review into the Grenfell tower fire expressed concern about the use of desktop studies and called for these to be restricted.