School shuts doors for risk assessment over cladding

A NORTH Wales high school is to close for the rest of the week as “a precautionary measure” in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

Lessons will not take place at Rhyl High School today and tomorrow after it was determined that an external cladding sheet came from the same manufacturers who provided cladding at Grenfell Tower.

In a statement, Denbighshire County Council said: “Following consultation with the development team, Denbighshire County Council can confirm that the external cladding sheet used is manufactured by the same company as that which provided the cladding for Grenfell Tower.

“However, as a result of new information emerging regarding the fact that the cladding comes from the same manufacturer it has been decided to close the school on Thursday and Friday whilst a full risk assessment and review of the safety management is carried out as a precautionary measure.

“There is nothing to suggest an increase in risk of fire at the school.”

The statement continued: “The council believes that the fire safety measures and extensive checks carried out as part of the new building works at Rhyl High School were sound.

“The council would also like to point out to the community that the use of cladding at Rhyl High School differs vastly from the cladding used in Grenfell and any other tower blocks.”

The council pointed out that the school was not high-rise, firebreaks had been installed vertically and horizontally, and a full coverage fire alarm and sprinkler systems were in place in a design approved by a fire engineer.

The council added: “The council is confident that any aluminium cladding panels used on Denbighshire County Council buildings represents a minor risk.”