Over the years I have asked BBA numerous times to explain how and why they continue to 'accredit' damp proofing gimmicks – chemicals, and products that claim to do things they clearly dont. This is my emails to them in January and February – to which I've had no reply. It seems finally we have a Hannah Willis at BBA Certs who has picked up the message, but doesnt know how to answer it.. I shall keep this one going until we get an answer.
9 January 2026
Dear BBA
Rising Damp has never been reproduced in a laboratory, and according to Historic England, they have never seen it either. The BRE have also said to us that they have never seen, or managed to reproduce Rising Damp.
Can you therefore give me the test method referenced in your agrement certificates that allows you to state categorically 'that the products form an effective barrier against rising damp in existing walls' and furthermore guaranteed for 20 years?
You quote BS: 6576 – this is a code of practise – it does not specify a test methodology, nor does it justify the existence of a phenomenon that has never either been seen in the real world, or reproduced in a laboratory.
I remind you of the comments made by the Grenfell Enquiry with regard to your performance. I reproduce these here:
The Grenfell Enquiry heavily criticised the British Board of Agrement (BBA) for its role in certifying combusible cladding, calling it "Incompetent", "Supine", and guilty of "a very basic failure of due diligence", noting its "inappropriate desire to please its customers" (like Kingspan) and publishing misleading certificates that allowed dangerous products onto high-rise buildings despite lacking full test data, essentially functioning as a mere "marketing tool" rather than a rigorous safety certifier.
Would you please give me a definitive description of your methods, and proof of the existence of a phenomenon that no other professional organisation has ever managed to reproduce, let alone hand out certificates guaranteeing performance to stop said phenomenon.
Thank you in anticipatio
Peter Ward.
Director
Hi Hannah
I was very clear about the fact that I have asked many times for test methodology and how certs are issued, especially in relation to damp proofing.
You have issued many, many certs for damp proofing products.
Given that nobody has ever reproduced rising damp in a laboratory, how can you certify products to stop a phenomenon that cannot be reproduced? I’ve asked repeatedly for details of testing methods that can show these products actually do something. I’ve never had an answer.
Please can you explain how you certify Dry Rods as stopping rising damp. Exactly what tests are carried out? How can you guarantee there will be no counter effects?
Please explain how you certify Stormdry masonry cream. What tests are done, and what do you do to ensure that there are no counter effects?
I have asked many times in the past and been ignored. Hopefully this time you will be able to provide me with the comfort of knowing that you exhaustively test these ‘products’ and ensure they prevent the scourge of every home – rising damp – that has never been confirmed in a single building.
In many thousands of building surveys, I have never seen it.
Colleagues at Historic England have never seen it.
Yet every member of the chemical damp industry finds it in nearly every building they ‘survey’, and recommends the use of a BBA ‘certified’ product to stop something we cannot see and that doesn’t exist.
I really appreciate you taking your time to address this..
Many thanks
Peter Ward, BSc
Director
Heritage House – www.heritage-house.org
Heritage House Survey – www.heritage-survey.org
Author: Warm Dry Home – https://shop.heritage-house.org/product/book-the-warm-dry-home/
From: Hannah Willis <hwillis@bbacerts.co.uk>
Sent: 27 February 2026 13:30
To: peter@heritage-house.org
Subject: BBA Enquiry
Dear Peter,
Thank you for your recent enquiry.
Please can you advise if you have a specific question about the BBA’s Certification Process?
Kind regards,
Hannah