Grenfell probe told fire brigade did not agree to non self-closing doors in flats

LONDON Fire Brigade (LFB) never agreed that flat entrance doors should not be self-closing, an inquiry into the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire has heard.

Andrew Jack, who worked in LFB’S fire safety regulation department and later became a head of fire safety enforcement, said he was “shocked” by the suggestion.

The inquiry heard that a query had been raised over the issue by Rebecca Burton, former fire safety team leader for Hammersmith, Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea at LFB, after a meeting in 2012.

She had seen that recent inspections of tenant management organisation properties had shown that a significant number of flat entrance doors were not self-closing.

Former firefighter Carl Stokes won the contract to conduct a fire risk assessment (FRA) for the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation in September 2010.

Ms Burton pointed to a comment that had been made in Mr Stokes’s FRA for a building called Adair Tower which suggested that flat entrance doors were not self-closing and this was in agreement with LFB.

Counsel to the inquiry Andrew Kinnier QC asked: “What did you make of the suggestion by Carl Stokes and Janice Wray that the LFB had ‘agreed’ at the meeting on November 8, 2012, that self-closing devices were not required on existing flat front entrance doors?”

Mr Jack replied: “Frankly, sir, I was shocked. Firstly, I am quite certain that no such agreement was given. Secondly, Mr Stokes is a former serving fire officer, and he has seen the devastation that can be caused by non self-closing fire doors.”