Sourcing vermiculite fire boards from China

Duty and classification for vermiculite boards

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 6806 covers expanded mineral materials and mineral insulating mixtures and articles. For finished vermiculite boards, investigate 6806 90 00 00 against the composition and manufacturing process. The other table rows distinguish raw expanded vermiculite and neighbouring materials; they are not interchangeable board codes. See the wider vermiculite insulation guide.

All listed lines carry 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures or suspensions recorded. The tariff attaches import and export waste controls to 6806 90 00 00 and the mineral-wool line. Official guidance says waste shipment controls apply only to waste. For discarded boards or waste material from China, ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable control and permissions before shipment.

Confirm the commodity code using the board composition, binder, processing and intended use. Describe the goods as finished boards rather than loose vermiculite. The hypothetical order values are illustrative, not supplier quotations; use the duty and VAT guide when preparing the landed-cost calculation.

Specify the board and the protected assembly

State whether the board is for structural fire protection, a lining or an appliance component. Agree mineral composition, binder, density, dimensions, thickness tolerance, edge profile, surface finish and machining details. Ask for evidence covering the proposed service temperature and application. Include an asbestos-free specification and request laboratory evidence, because vermiculite products can carry asbestos contamination.

CE marking remains available for construction products placed on the Great Britain market. Ask the supplier which product standard or technical assessment supports its proposed marking and performance declaration. Match the reports to the actual board formulation, thickness and intended use. For assembly fire-resistance claims, compare the tested substrate, joints, fixings and installation with your design. Arrange testing and certification support before committing to the batch.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: A palletised batch of vermiculite fire-protection boards, illustrative only under 6806 90 00 00, invoiced at £12,000 free on board, with £4,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £16,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £16,000, so it is £3,200. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Dimensions: measure thickness, length, width, squareness and flatness against the agreed drawing.

Condition: inspect faces, edges and machined openings for cracks, chips, crumbling and moisture damage.

Evidence: match batch identification and board description to the agreed fire reports, material declaration and asbestos analysis.

Packing: check corner protection, separators, pallet support and moisture protection; record arrival damage through the quality inspection process.

What goes wrong

A supplier substitutes a different binder or density while retaining the original fire report. A report for a lining is offered for structural protection, or evidence for another thickness is treated as equivalent. Ask the project specifier to review the actual evidence and installation details before accepting a substitution.

Boards can arrive with crushed corners, hidden cracks or damaged fixing holes. Moisture and poor pallet support can leave a batch difficult to fit. Agree acceptance criteria and packing with the factory, then inspect before dispatch and again at arrival.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.