UK announces fire safety review after tests identify 82 unsafe tower blocks

 

Demonstrators protest against the Grenfell Tower fire outside a Kensington and Chelsea Council meeting at Kensington Town Hall in London. REUTERS/Neil Hall

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain announced a review of building and fire safety rules on Friday after tests conducted following last month's deadly tower block blaze in London found a cladding system known to be used on 82 buildings breached regulations.

 

Police have said they believe the system of insulation and cladding panels added during a refurbishment of Grenfell Tower may have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire in which 80 people died.

 

After initial testing highlighted potential fire risks in buildings across the country, a second, more extensive round of tests found a specific cladding system known to be in use on 82 buildings did not meet building regulations, the government said in a statement.

 

Alongside the release of the test results, ministers ordered an independent review of building regulations and fire safety.

 

"It’s clear we need to urgently look at building regulations and fire safety," communities minister Sajid Javid said in a statement. "This independent review will ensure we can swiftly make any necessary improvements."

 

The review will look at the existing regulatory system, compliance and enforcement of the regulations, and will draw on similar regulations overseas.

Friday's results are the first to be published from six sets of tests involving three different types of aluminium composite material combined with two different types of insulation.

 

The government said immediate action was already underway to ensure the safety of residents in the affected buildings, without giving further details.

The BBC reported on Thursday that police investigating the fire believe there are grounds to suspect that corporate manslaughter may have been committed by the local council.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-07-29

I still think this has the makings of a cover up. Let's find dozens of buildings which don't technically comply but quietly forget about criminally, cynically failing to comply as a cost cutting measure. These weasels need watching closely.

I am totally happy that I do not live in London or anywhere in Britain for now.

  If I was a person living there I would lose a lot of sleep .

Geezer

Regulations? The Con Party? These are the sods that in 2015 scrapped dangerous chemicals controls thus enableing easy access to concentrated acids! But heh! At least it's saving businesses registration costs! Please can the EU take charge? 

 

http://www.hse.gov.uk/chemical-classification/what-to-do/distribute-store-chemicals.htm

 

Sorry, must rush to get a bottle of concentrated nitric acid for the EGM tomorrow ?

Edited July 30, 20178 yr by Grouse

As shocking as this whole story is, how refreshing is it to hear of authorities seeking independent reviews of regulations and safety, repeated and extensive testing, immediate action, and the big one that you're 100% guaranteed never to see over here: 'draw on similar regulations overseas'.

 

On 7/29/2017 at 2:03 PM, rooster59 said:

found a cladding system known to be used on 82 buildings breached regulations.

In which case it should be easy to quickly identify those professionals directly responsible for breaching the regulations.