Panels are banned in Germany and the US

THE cheap flammable cladding believed to have been used on Grenfell Tower is banned in Germany, Dubai and the US.

It is thought hundreds of ‘Reynobond’ panels, with a flammable plastic core, contributed to the inferno.

But as authorities race to assess the hundreds of buildings in the UK fitted with a similar material, it has emerged other nations have been taking action for years.

It comes despite Communities Secretary Sajid Javid appearing to suggest yesterday that the danger of flammable cladding was an issue ‘no one has thought of yet’.

In Dubai, a number of blazes were blamed on the panels, so the state’s Ministry of Interior introduced a requirement for high-rise buildings with the cladding to be fitted with fire-retardant panels every three floors and external sprinklers.

The Gulf nation then banned the use of flammable cladding altogether in a document circulated last year.

Since the 19 0s, German builders have been banned from using plastic-filled cladding on towers more than 24 yards tall.

Frankfurt’s fire chief, Reinhard Ries, has claimed that because of the tough rules a fire like the Grenfell Tower blaze could not occur in Germany’s tower blocks.

Three types of Reynobond are available – one with a flammable plastic core and two with fire-resistant centres. A Reynobond salesman told The Times this particular version, which has a polythene core and is referred to as ‘PE’, was banned in US buildings taller than 40ft. ‘It’s because of the fire and smoke spread,’ he said.

The PE cladding is banned by the International Code Council, set up by the US construction industry. Despite its name, the voluntary code applies only in the US.