Questions asked about fireproofing
LONDON: Planning documents detailing the refurbishment of a residential tower block in West London where at least 12 people died in a fire yesterday did not refer to a type of fire barrier that building safety experts said should be used when high rise blocks are being re-clad.
The local authority which owns Grenfell Tower in Kensington declined to confirm whether fire barriers were installed on most floors between the insulation panels attached someone to help her baby. A man came with a blanket and waited down below. Amazingly he caught the baby, which looked okay. The child was about 11 months old.
“But one middle-aged man came down from a long way up, and landed on the floor with an awful thump. I don’t think the paramedics could do anything for him.” to the exterior of the building as part of the renovation.
Rydon Group, the construction company which undertook the work, also declined to say whether they had been used, but said the revamp “met all required building control, fire regulation and health and safety standards.”
“We are shocked to hear of the devastating fire at Grenfell Tower and our thoughts are with those that have been affected by the incident,” a Rydon spokesperson said.
One resident wept as he described how people “just threw their kids out, screaming ‘save my children’”. One man claimed he saw a child who was on fire leap from the 22nd floor, adding: “He walked to the window, and he jumped.”
Brave firefighters were beaten back by the intense heat for several hours. Another witness, Ubaidah Rachi, 15, said:
The government department in charge of regulating building work – the Department for Communities and Local Government – did not respond to reporters’ questions, including whether such fire barriers were required by law.
It later issued a statement saying “it would not be appropriate to comment on the cause of the fire”. Legal experts declined to express an opinion on whether fire barriers are required by law. “I saw a mother and father and their two children screaming and shouting for someone to rescue them. I could see the flames and smoke growing higher below them. Eventually the flames reached them and swallowed the whole family.”
Rescuers held riot shields over their heads as debris rained down.
Resident Tamara said:
The £8.7 million (R140 million) refurbishment was completed last year. It involved the application of new external cladding and replacement windows with the aim of improving heat and noise insulation, according to council documents.
The application of insulating layers to the outside of buildings is common, but it is also recognised by some architects and construction safety specialists as a potential fire risk. – Reuters “There were people just throwing their kids out, saying ‘Save my children’.
“The fire crew, ambulance and police couldn’t do anything, they couldn’t get in. They were just telling them to stay where they are, and ‘we’ll come and get you’.
“But things quickly escalated and they couldn’t go back in.” – Daily Mail