CLADDING ‘LIKE A MATCH ON PETROL’
THE lethal cladding on Grenfell Tower caused flames to erupt quicker than “dropping a match into a barrel of petrol”.
Stephanie Barwise QC also told the inquiry into the disaster that the building was “virtually incombustible concrete” before it was refurbished.
Kensington and Chelsea council, as well as the tower’s landlords and contractors, have been slated over the revamp.
Danny Friedman QC told the hearing: “In the second decade of 21st century London, governed by a regulatory framework designed to ensure fire safety, a local authority instigated and oversaw the refurbishment of a social housing high-rise tower block in such a way as to render it a death trap.”
Ms Barwise, also representing the bereaved and survivors of last June’s blaze which killed 72 people, told the inquiry in London that CEP, the sub-contractor who bought and fabricated the cladding panels, Harley Facades, who installed cladding, and architects Studio E all said they cannot yet participate.
She also said main contractor Rydon, who claimed they were not responsible for decisions relating to cladding, were being “disingenuous”.
Ms Barwise said her team believe “the ignition of the polyethylene within the panel produces a flaming reaction more quickly than dropping a match in a barrel of petrol”.
Arconic, who supplied the panels, said they were one element of a cladding system and did not make the tragedy inevitable.
The inquiry continues.