From the archive: The Grenfell fire (Pt 2): The cladding scandal
Aug 31, 2024
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Martina Lees, a Senior Property Writer at The Sunday Times, brings her expertise to discuss the catastrophic Grenfell Tower fire. She reflects on the impact of hazardous cladding, revealing systemic safety failures that exacerbated the tragedy. The conversation delves into personal stories from affected families and highlights the lack of accountability among corporations like Kingspan. Additionally, she emphasizes the urgent need for regulatory reform to prevent future tragedies and the ongoing fight for justice by survivors.
The Grenfell Tower fire highlighted severe regulatory failures and systemic negligence regarding the use of flammable cladding materials in high-rise buildings.
Despite government funding efforts, around 640,000 people in the UK are still living in unsafe buildings, underscoring an ongoing safety crisis.
Deep dives
The Tragic Grenfell Fire
The Grenfell Tower fire, which occurred five years ago, resulted in the deaths of 72 individuals, marking it as one of the deadliest residential fires in UK history. The fire spread rapidly due to systemic negligence and flammable cladding materials that surrounded the tower, which failed to comply with safety regulations. In the aftermath, extensive protests called for justice, prompting a public inquiry that has been ongoing for several years. The inquiry revealed a housing scandal, with many still living in unsafe buildings today due to similar flammable materials.
Failure of Regulatory Oversight
The inquiry unveiled serious lapses in regulatory oversight that contributed significantly to the Grenfell tragedy. Key figures within the government, such as Brian Martin, were informed of the risks posed by cladding materials but did not take appropriate action to close existing loopholes. The rules designed to ensure safety in building materials were found to be inadequate, allowing dangerous materials to be used in high-rise constructions. Despite multiple warnings regarding the risks associated with flammable cladding, systematic inaction has perpetuated these safety issues.
Corporate Malfeasance in Cladding Production
Manufacturers associated with the cladding of Grenfell Tower, including Arconic, Kingspan, and Celotex, have been implicated in unethical practices that compromised safety. Evidence presented in the inquiry showed that these companies used misleading certifications to promote their products, often ignoring or hiding the true risks involved. For instance, Kingspan continued to market its K15 insulation despite knowledge that it could ignite under certain conditions. Such corporate negligence raises serious questions about accountability, as profits from these companies have continued to soar while repercussions for their actions remain minimal.
The Ongoing Cladding Crisis
In the wake of the Grenfell fire, a staggering 640,000 people in the UK are still living in buildings clad with dangerous materials, highlighting an ongoing crisis in building safety. Although the government has allocated funds to address the issue, the majority of properties remain unaddressed, and the affected homeowners continue to face financial burdens. Many of these residents are unable to sell or refinance their properties due to unresolved safety concerns, leading to a state of limbo. This situation emphasizes the urgent need for comprehensive policy changes and accountability to prevent further tragedies.
The Public Inquiry into the fire at Grenfell Tower will publish its final report on Wednesday. Ahead of its findings, we're re-visiting a two-part series that looked into the failings that lead to the tragedy - and the stories of the families who lived in the tower.
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Guest: Martina Lees, Senior Property Writer, The Sunday Times.