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Other British Towers Use Cladding Blamed in London Fire Hundreds of U.K. High Rises Use Cladding Blamed in London Fire
(35 minutes later)
LONDON — Other high-rise buildings in Britain have combustible exterior cladding similar to that which covered Grenfell Tower, where at least 79 people died in a fire on June 14, Prime Minister Theresa May said on Thursday. LONDON — Hundreds of high-rise buildings in Britain have potentially combustible exterior cladding similar to the kind that covered Grenfell Tower, where at least 79 people died in a fire on June 14, Prime Minister Theresa May said on Thursday.
About 600 buildings in England alone have cladding similar to that used in the tower, and the materials used on at least three of those buildings have been found to be combustible, suggesting an immediate safety risk, Mrs. May’s office said. Exterior cladding has been blamed for contributing to the rapid spread of the fire, which engulfed the 24-story building in about an hour.
The cladding on the the 24-story tower in West London has been blamed for aiding the rapid spread of the fire, which engulfed the building in just an hour. About 600 buildings in England alone have exterior cladding, in which a polyethylene core is sandwiched between sheets of aluminum composite.
Mrs. May, who was criticized in the days after the fire for what was seen as a lack of empathy and alacrity, has since moved quickly to get the situation under control. Not all of those buildings pose an immediate risk — samples from each building are to be sent to a national laboratory, which can handle 100 tests a day — but at least three of them might, according to preliminary reports.
Tests on 4,000 other apartment towers around Britain were ordered as a precaution soon after the fire, but the announcement by Mrs. May — minutes before the start of a parliamentary hearing — left lawmakers visibly surprised. Mrs. May, who was criticized in the days after the fire as lacking empathy and alacrity, has since moved to get the situation under control.
Tests on 4,000 apartment towers around Britain were ordered as a precaution soon after the fire, but Mrs. May’s announcement — made minutes before the start of a parliamentary hearing — left lawmakers visibly surprised.
“Shortly before I came to this chamber, I was informed that a number of tests have come back as combustible,” Mrs. May told lawmakers. “The relevant local authorities and local fire services have been informed, and as I speak, they are taking all possible steps to ensure buildings are safe, and to inform affected residents.”“Shortly before I came to this chamber, I was informed that a number of tests have come back as combustible,” Mrs. May told lawmakers. “The relevant local authorities and local fire services have been informed, and as I speak, they are taking all possible steps to ensure buildings are safe, and to inform affected residents.”
After the debate, Mrs. May’s office provided details about the number of buildings affected. Sajid Javid, the secretary for communities and local government, was expected to provide further details later on Thursday.After the debate, Mrs. May’s office provided details about the number of buildings affected. Sajid Javid, the secretary for communities and local government, was expected to provide further details later on Thursday.
The fire has focused attention on a wide range of fire safety issues at Grenfell Tower and elsewhere. The fire has focused attention on a variety of fire safety issues at Grenfell Tower and elsewhere.
The tower, completed in 1974, did not have sprinklers or a centralized alarm system, and this is not uncommon for a block of its age. Lawmakers have chastised the government for failing to encourage the retrofitting of older buildings with sprinklers — as was recommended in a report on an earlier deadly fire, in Southeast London in 2009. A policy urging residents to “stay put” until rescue workers arrived has also been questioned. The building, completed in 1974, did not have sprinklers or a centralized alarm system, though this is not uncommon for a block of its age. Lawmakers have chastised the government for failing to encourage the retrofitting of older buildings with sprinklers — as was recommended in a report on a deadly fire in Southeast London in 2009. A policy urging residents to “stay put” until rescue workers arrived has also been questioned.
Perhaps no issue has gotten as much attention, however, as the exterior cladding — insulation sandwiched between two sheets of aluminum — that was installed at Grenfell Tower as part of a renovation that was completed in May 2016. Perhaps no issue has gotten as much attention, however, as the cladding, which was installed at Grenfell Tower as part of a renovation that was completed in May 2016.
Critics of the material have warned for years that aluminum surface sheets can melt in a fire, after which flames could race through flammable insulation. Similar kinds of materials have been associated with fires in high-rise buildings in the United Arab Emirates, China and elsewhere. Critics of the material have warned for years that aluminum surface sheets can melt in a fire, after which a blaze could race through flammable insulation. Similar kinds of materials have been associated with fires in high-rise buildings in China, the United Arab Emirates and elsewhere.
Mrs. May urged owners of buildings to immediately come forward to have their structures tested. “We can test over 100 buildings a day and the results come within hours,” she said. “I urge any landlord who owns a building of this kind to send samples for testing as soon as possible. Any results will be communicated immediately to local authorities and local fire services.” Mrs. May urged building owners to have their structures tested immediately. “We can test over 100 buildings a day, and the results come within hours,” she said. “I urge any landlord who owns a building of this kind to send samples for testing as soon as possible. Any results will be communicated immediately to local authorities and local fire services.”
Mrs. May stressed that landlords had “a legal obligation to provide safe buildings,” said that owners would be asked to provide alternative accommodation if they could not fulfill this duty. “We cannot and will not ask people to live in unsafe homes,” she said. Mrs. May stressed that landlords had “a legal obligation to provide safe buildings,” and said that owners would be asked to provide alternative accommodation if they could not fulfill this duty. “We cannot and will not ask people to live in unsafe homes,” she said.
Notably, Mrs. May did not repeat an assertion made by two of her ministers on Sunday. The ministers, including Philip Hammond, chancellor of the Exchequer, maintained that the kind of cladding used on the tower was illegal under British regulations.Notably, Mrs. May did not repeat an assertion made by two of her ministers on Sunday. The ministers, including Philip Hammond, chancellor of the Exchequer, maintained that the kind of cladding used on the tower was illegal under British regulations.
If true, that would deflect responsibility for the disaster away from the government and toward the tower’s owners and building contractors, but a close examination of the regulations does not support the ministers’ assertions.If true, that would deflect responsibility for the disaster away from the government and toward the tower’s owners and building contractors, but a close examination of the regulations does not support the ministers’ assertions.
On Sunday, Mrs. May’s government seized control of the emergency response, sidelining officials from the local council, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, which owns the building. On Wednesday, the government said it would acquire 68 units in a luxury complex to permanently house displaced families.On Sunday, Mrs. May’s government seized control of the emergency response, sidelining officials from the local council, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, which owns the building. On Wednesday, the government said it would acquire 68 units in a luxury complex to permanently house displaced families.
The council’s chief executive, Nicholas Holgate, announced his resignation on Thursday, saying he had been asked to leave by Mr. Javid. The council had been heavily criticized as having been slow to provide emergency aid to the survivors. The council’s chief executive, Nicholas Holgate, announced his resignation on Thursday, saying he had been asked to leave by Mr. Javid. The council had been heavily criticized as being slow to provide emergency aid to the survivors.
Mrs. May said she would appoint within days a judge to lead an independent public inquiry into the fire. In addition, the Metropolitan Police in London has opened a criminal investigation. Mrs. May said she would appoint within days a judge to lead an independent public inquiry into the fire. The Metropolitan Police has opened a criminal investigation.
Grenfell Tower contained about 120 apartments, but Mrs. May said on Thursday that 151 homes had been destroyed, because the fire gutted several others near the tower. On Thursday, 10 people injured in the fire remained hospitalized, and five of them were in critical condition. Grenfell Tower contained about 120 apartments, but Mrs. May said on Thursday that 151 homes had been destroyed, because the fire had spread beyond the tower. On Thursday, 10 people injured in the fire remained hospitalized, five of them in critical condition.
Mrs. May’s statements did not mollify her critics, including Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the opposition Labour Party.Mrs. May’s statements did not mollify her critics, including Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the opposition Labour Party.
Mr. Corbyn said that the residents’ longstanding concerns about fire safety had been ignored, and suggested that had been part of a pattern of working-class people not being taken seriously.Mr. Corbyn said that the residents’ longstanding concerns about fire safety had been ignored, and suggested that had been part of a pattern of working-class people not being taken seriously.
He said that local councils had cut back on fire inspections because of budget cuts and that combustible cladding needed to be removed from all buildings, whatever the cost. He said that local councils had reduced fire inspections because of budget cuts and that combustible cladding needed to be removed from all buildings, whatever the cost.
Mrs. May, who seemed poised and knowledgeable as she took numerous questions, did not say what would happen to residents of towers where combustible cladding was used, except that the government was “immediately acting to ensure the safety of people within.”Mrs. May, who seemed poised and knowledgeable as she took numerous questions, did not say what would happen to residents of towers where combustible cladding was used, except that the government was “immediately acting to ensure the safety of people within.”