Firm knew its cladding was ‘unsafe’ six years before Grenfell disaster
Panels fared worse in tests than company claimed, inquiry hears
THE company which made the Grenfell Tower cladding knew it fell below safety standards six years before the disaster, the inquiry into the blaze has heard.
And the panels performed worse in fire tests than the firm declared on safety certificates, it was added.
In biting comments earlier, inquiry chief lawyer Richard Millett accused the companies involved in Grenfell’s
2014 to 2016 refurbishment of refusing to accept any responsibility for the 2017 fire which killed 72 people.
At the opening of phase two of the inquiry yesterday, he said bosses are arguing that “what happened was somebody else’s fault”. Mr Millett added the bereaved families are “owed an honest account from witnesses”.
The investigation has previously found the panels fitted during the revamp were the main cause of the spread of the blaze in Kensington, West London.
Marcus Taverner, the lawyer for Rydon – the main contractor on the
Contractor’s lawyer Marcus Taverner
Exterior of the wrecked block of flats refurbishment – made reference to internal emails which showed US firm Arconic knew in 2011 the fire performance of its Reynobond polyethylene-filled panels was below what was required in the UK.
An Arconic official said in the messages the fire rating of the panels had dropped to class E from class B, so they were “unsuitable for use on building facades” in Europe.
But he added: “We can still work with regulators who are not as restrictive.”
In 2015 the official said the panels were “dangerous on facades and everything should be done to transfer to fire resistant as a matter of urgency”. Mr Taverner told the hearing in Central London: “Arconic continued to use the [class B] certificate to promote sales of Reynobond and did so specifically in the case of Grenfell Tower.”
Families group Grenfell United said: “We are hopeful the inquiry will expose the people... who put profit and greed above our safety and the safety of our loved ones.”
RICHARD MILLETT HITS OUT AT HEARING
Bereaved families are owed an honest account