Cladding in residential buildings to be tested after Grenfell Tower fire

In light of the Grenfell Tower fire, the government is instructing landlords to conduct additional fire safety checks, especially in tower blocks and cladding from residential buildings will be tested, the Prime Minister says. 

In a statement made in front of the House of Commons talking about the Grenfell Tower and the measures taken in order to help the victims of the tragedy, Theresa May said that landlords were instructed to conduct additional fire safety checks, paying special attention to tower blocks.

“All social landlords have been instructed to carry out additional fire safety checks on tower blocks and ensure the appropriate safety and response measures are in place. This is being done in cooperation with local fire and rescue services. We have also taken steps to make private landlords aware and made our checking facilities available to them for free,” the Prime Minister said in her statement.

She also pointed out that even thou there are no official conclusions regarding what happened at Grenfell Tower, and officials should be careful with speculations, as a safety measure,  the government has arranged to test cladding in all relevant tower blocks. May warned that some results that came in are worrisome.

“Shortly before I came to the Chamber, I was informed that a number of these tests have come back as combustible. The relevant local authorities and local fire services have been informed, and as I speak they are taking all possible steps to ensure buildings are safe and to inform affected residents,” the Prime Minister said.

Around 100 tests can be run a day and landlords are urged to send in samples with the results being communicated to local officials and fire authorities.

According to the British media, some 600 tower blocks use similar cladding to the one that covered Grenfell Tower.

While the blazes of Grenfell Tower were raging, public opinion already started talking about the potential impact that the cladding had on spreading or keeping up the fire. The flammable panels are suspected to have contributed to the spread of the blaze, according to several reports.

According to a Guardian report, the panels used as part of the £8.7 million overhaul of the 24-storey tower were a cheaper option as opposed to the fire resistant ones. Their cores are made out of polyethylene, a known flammable plastic.

The company involved in the refurbishment of the building said it complied with all safety and health regulations but in an interview with BBC, Chancellor Philip Hammond suggested that this type of cladding, which is banned in the high-rise buildings in Europe and the US, is also illegal in the UK. But according to the media, the UK has no regulations that require the use of fire-retardant material in cladding used on the exterior of tower blocks and schools.