Tests being carried out on 600 English tower blocks with cladding

[Eugene]

Last edited Thu Jun 22, 2017, 02:15 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: The Guardian

Tests are being carried out on 600 high-rise council buildings in England to see whether they have flammable exterior cladding similar to that used on Grenfell Tower, in west London.

The estimate, revealed by Downing Street, came as Theresa May told parliament that urgent tests were taking place around Britain to see how many tower blocks might be at risk following the devastating fire in north Kensington.

Making a statement to the Commons about the fire last week in which at least 79 people died, the prime minister said initial test results had shown other blocks had seemingly used flammable cladding.

Speaking after May’s statement, a No 10 spokeswoman said that after councils were told to provide the government with details of cladding, a “small number” of samples were tested, and three of these were found to be combustible.

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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/22/flammable-cladding-found-on-other-flats-after-grenfell-fire-says-may

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Peter Walker and Robert Booth
Thursday 22 June 2017 13.27 BST

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Also: Grenfell Tower: Seven high rises 'fail fire-risk tests' (BBC)

[procon]

1. Stronger safety regulations save lives.

I have this is a wake up call for every government that thinks about undermining the public safety programs. Profits will be reduced if fire codes are up to date, but greed doesn't outweigh lives.

[irisblue]

2. Are sprinklers, fire escapes& fire doors required in those buildings?

I did a bit of research and learned that many of those tower blocks were built in the late 50s to mid 60s to recover post ww2 housing. Thanks for anyone who can tell me.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. From what I have read...

Grenfell Tower had been recently remodeled, and the for profit company which manages it claims the tenants objected to installation of sprinklers
and that the tenants objected to fire alarms in the hallways, but were ok with fire alarms in their units, altho I have not read a single word that mentions the unit fire alarms going off, nor did I hear one in the video of a woman in her apt. recording at the time.
It also appears the fire doors were not installed OR not working, not sure of that.

Am sure, from reading many BBC news articles, that the cladding was ILLEGAL in US and in Britain.
Not only does it burn like a torch, it melts and then falls in a fireball onto the heads of the firefighters, who cannot even see it coming thru the smoke.This can clearly seen on videos of the fire.

Last I read, criminal charges were being looked at.

[Igel]

4. No sprinklers.

No alarms. No sprinklers required when built in the '70s.

One person in authority said the cladding was not legal for use in the US and was used against manufacturer's instructions so it *must* be illegal in Britain. This is his conclusion about was the refs were. Others flat out stated the regs permitted this cladding.

[Eugene]

5. Grenfell Tower: Seven high rises 'fail fire-risk tests'

Source: BBC

Grenfell Tower: Seven high rises 'fail fire-risk tests'

22 June 2017 UK

Seven residential high-rise buildings in four local authority areas have been found to be covered in combustible cladding following safety tests.

Landlords are being told and more checks carried out, number 10 said.

It comes as further tests are being carried out on about 600 high rises across England.

Cladding is thought to have contributed to the rapid spread of fire at Grenfell Tower, in which at least 79 people are believed to have died.

Extra checks by the fire service would determine whether the buildings were safe and what - if any - action needed to be taken, the prime minister's spokesman said.

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Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-40366646