Irish Daily Mirror

GRENFELL CLADDING IS STILL BEING SOLD

- BY MATTHEW YOUNG and AMY-CLARE MARTIN m.young@mirror.co.uk

The tower ablaze A “COMBUSTIBL­E” material used on Grenfell Tower is still being sold for high rise blocks.

Some materials blamed for the rapid spread of the fire have been taken off the market.

But insulation by building firm Kingspan – based in Kingscourt, Co Cavan – is still for sale online.

The product, Kooltherm K15, was described by one expert as being like “plastic petrol”. The inquiry into the June 2017 disaster, which killed 72 people, resumed after its summer break.

Lawyers demanded interim action was taken to ensure public safety during the inquiry.

Sam Stein QC called for a “moratorium” – a temporary ban – on certain building materials.

Peter Weatherby QC told chairman Sir Martin Moore-bick: “It’s necessary and urgent.”

Fire planning consultant Stephen Mackenzie called for a ban on the Kingspan material, which was used on less than 5% of the insulation on the tower.

He added: “Kingspan continue to openly market this product.”

Lawyers for the bereaved have recommenda­tions they want to be put in place during the inquiry.

Michael Mansfield QC said “blindingly obvious” ones should not “require consultati­on”.

The British Government is consulting on banning combustibl­e materials in cladding systems on high-rise residentia­l buildings.

The Constructi­on Industry Council has backed the ban, with exemptions, saying: “It should apply to buildings over 18 metres, and any above one storey in which vulnerable people gather.”

A Kingspan spokesman said: “Our consistent position is largescale system testing is the only meaningful way to test whether a cladding system is safe.”

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