Fire breaks out on top floor of a block of flats at East London’s Bethnal Green

34 highrises across UK tested for flammable material fail fire safety test

All high-rise tower blocks tested across the UK so far for flammable material similar to the cladding related to the blaze at a 24storey residential tower in London last week have failed their compulsory fire safety tests.

The UK-wide fire safety alert on residential tower blocks has been triggered by the Grenfell Tower blaze on June 14, which resulted in, at least, 79 deaths and displaced hundreds.

UK Communities secretary Sajid Javid said on Sunday that as many as 34 buildings in 17 local council areas in the country were so far affected and tests in other areas are ongoing. “The fact that all samples so far have failed the tests underlines the value of the testing programme we have set up with the Building Research Establishment to get samples checked properly in the laboratories. It is therefore very important for local authorities and housing associations to continue to submit such samples as a matter of urgency,” the minister said.

“The landlords for all the affected buildings are taking action to inform tenants and implement the interim safety measures needed.”

Not all buildings failing the test are expected to be evacuated as people from Chalcots Estate in Swiss Cottage in north London spent a second night away from their homes after being moved out on Friday night as the estate was found to be vulnerable. Mr Javid said the decision to evacuate four towers on London’s Chalcots Estate was taken because a failed cladding test had been “compounded by multiple other fire safety failures”.

Camden Council said that staff would continue asking those people who had not yet left the estate to vacate their flats. About 20 households had refused to leave their homes by Saturday evening. “By remaining in the blocks these residents risk delaying the work that is required and that we are undertaking to make these homes safe. It is not safe to remain in these blocks and our residents’ safety will continue to be the council’s number one priority” Council leader Georgia Gould said.