CLADDING FEARS AT RVH

Ulster hospital material ‘similar’ to that used on blaze-engulfed Grenfell Tower

CLADDING on the new critical care building at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital may be the same as that on Grenfell Tower.

It was revealed last night more checks are to be carried out on the troubled £150million medical unit, the majority of which remains closed. More than 80 people died in the London high-rise fire last month. A health department official said: “The critical care block has a limited installation of a cladding system similar to that

used on Grenfell Tower block. It has been installed to a roof-top ventilation plant room and an external entrance canopy. “In light of recent events, the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust is further assessing the extent of the installation, however, it has been confirmed this building has been designed and built in compliance with current building regulations and meets fire safety requirements.” He added 19 buildings had been inspected by officials. Concerns were immediately raised over the Grenfell blaze that the new cladding allowed the fire to spread so rapidly and disastrously. Checks were subsequently ordered for public buildings in Northern Ireland. The spokesman said it would continue to assess the make-up of the RVH cladding. The critical care unit was due to open five years ago but it’s been beset by problems. The A&E department takes up two floors but the remaining 10 lie empty.

PROBE Belfast’s Royal Victoria