Cladding removed from market over safety doubts
THE Government has asked that a cladding product be removed from the market amid fears it may not be up to its official fire safety standard.
Vitracore G2, a cladding panel made by manufacturer Valcan, was tested by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) after questions were raised about its level of fire-resistance.
On Thursday, it was found that the panels being sold differed from the ones which passed the certification tests.
Vitracore G2 was given an A2 fire classification –meaning it is of “limited combustibility” – but the materially different product found on sale might not meet these requirements.
Building safety has been placed under intense scrutiny after 72 people died as a result of a fire at Grenfell Tower last June, its spread fuelled by a combustible cladding system.
The MHCLG notified Trading Standards of its findings about the Valcan product – not linked to last year’s tragedy – while the owners of two residential tower blocks with the panels, understood to be in London and Cardiff, have also been contacted.
Valcan disputed the results, but by yesterday afternoon had removed the product from its website.
A MHCLG spokesman said: “There is nothing more important than ensuring people are safe in their homes. We have taken immediate action and referred this matter to Trading Standards, contacted the two residential building owners affected and asked the supplier to remove the Vitracore G2 product from the market”.
It is unclear how effectively the product currently on sale resists flames and further tests are being carried out to establish its combustibility.
The development further heightens concern that building products sold on the market may not be as safe as advertised.
Ministers are considering plans to tighten up the testing regime for construction products, which will be finalised later this year.
The Government has been guided on building safety issues by an independent group of advisers who were set up in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire.
Valcan said : “We do not agree with the testing carried out by their chosen test facility, because it is incomplete and therefore inconclusive. We can confirm that the glue layers are consistent and that our factory is ISO9001 registered.”