Facias are safe — but need to be modernised
Families living in high-rise flats have been told blocks will be reclad following the Grenfell Tower tragedy in London.
Renfrewshire Council wants to replace the external covering on five buildings with energy-saving insulation.
Bosses insist the current facias of four Paisley sites and one in Johnstone are not unsafe.
A communities, housing and planning policy board safety report recommended modernisation work is carried out.
It stated: “The council commissioned a specialist contractor to inspect and assess the condition of the external cladding system at five blocks due to the age of the cladding systems.
“As the cladding on each of these five blocks is approaching the end of its life cycle, preparations are underway to commence a programme of replacing the cladding with new, energy efficient insulation systems.
“As part of the inspections, each block was also assessed by a team of fully qualified fire engineers.
“No adverse concerns in relation to the fire risk of the buildings were identified, though a number of recommendations were noted.”
The safety checks were carried out at Paisley’s Gleniffer Court, Nethercraigs Court, Maxwellton Court and George Court and Provost Close, in Johnstone.
Officers say the mineral core cladding used at the five blocks is not the same as the materials at Grenfell Tower.
But investigators did find panels that should be replaced at one of the blocks.
George Court will be prioritised, as work is needed to change balcony enclosure panels — although this is not deemed to be urgent.
A series of recommendations to upgrade the buildings and nine others across the region have been made.
Chiefs have been urged to survey fire resisting doors in common areas, with a view to upgrading closing devices; draw-up additional measures to reduce risk of fire at bin chutes; and visit owned flats to ensure they have working smoke and heat alarms.
Council chiefs ordered checks at the five buildings and nine others across Renfrewshire following the flat inferno in London.
Cladding was inspected at each block, with daily checks are carried out by concierge staff, with quarterly inspection visits to all blocks from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
At least 80 people died with flames ripped through Grenfell Tower in June. It took 250 officers 24 hours to extinguish the fire.
Conman Anh Nhu Nguyen, 52, from Beckenham, south-east London, was convicted earlier this week of lying his son and wife were killed in the blaze to claim £12,500 meant for victims.
He pleaded guilty to fraud at the city’s Southwark Crown Court and will be sentenced next month.
A public inquiry into the tragedy was launched in September and will consider if building materials used at the site were to blame for the rapid spread of the fire.