This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/22/world/europe/uk-grenfell-tower-london-fire.html
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| After London Fire, Cladding on 600 High Rises Is Being Tested | After London Fire, Cladding on 600 High Rises Is Being Tested |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| LONDON — The authorities in Britain are scrambling to conduct safety tests on at least 600 high-rise buildings with exterior cladding, after London’s deadliest fire in decades. | |
| Exterior cladding is thought to have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire, which engulfed Grenfell Tower, a 24-story apartment block in West London, in about an hour, early on the morning of June 14, and killed at least 79 people. | Exterior cladding is thought to have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire, which engulfed Grenfell Tower, a 24-story apartment block in West London, in about an hour, early on the morning of June 14, and killed at least 79 people. |
| Samples of cladding from residential buildings over 18 meters (about 60 feet) in height are being sent to a national laboratory to check whether they are combustible. Tests have already shown that at least three buildings are at risk. | Samples of cladding from residential buildings over 18 meters (about 60 feet) in height are being sent to a national laboratory to check whether they are combustible. Tests have already shown that at least three buildings are at risk. |
| The cladding panels used at Grenfell Tower were of an aluminum composite material. Critics of the material have warned for years that it can melt in a fire, after which a blaze could race through the flammable polyethylene insulation between the sheets. | The cladding panels used at Grenfell Tower were of an aluminum composite material. Critics of the material have warned for years that it can melt in a fire, after which a blaze could race through the flammable polyethylene insulation between the sheets. |
| Prime Minister Theresa May’s announcement about the testing — made at the start of a parliamentary discussion — left lawmakers visibly surprised. | Prime Minister Theresa May’s announcement about the testing — made at the start of a parliamentary discussion — 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.” |
| Afterward, Mrs. May’s office told journalists that 600 buildings had panels “similar” to those used in Grenfell Tower. The office later amended that statement, saying that the number 600 referred to tall buildings with cladding, and that not all of them would have potentially combustible materials. | Afterward, Mrs. May’s office told journalists that 600 buildings had panels “similar” to those used in Grenfell Tower. The office later amended that statement, saying that the number 600 referred to tall buildings with cladding, and that not all of them would have potentially combustible materials. |
| Sajid Javid, the secretary for communities and local government, was expected to provide further details later on Thursday. | 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 variety of safety issues at Grenfell Tower and elsewhere. | The fire has focused attention on a variety of safety issues at Grenfell Tower and elsewhere. |
| The building, completed in 1974, did not have sprinklers or a centralized alarm system, though that is not uncommon for a high rise 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. | The building, completed in 1974, did not have sprinklers or a centralized alarm system, though that is not uncommon for a high rise 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 received as much attention, however, as the cladding, which was installed at Grenfell Tower as part of a renovation that was completed in May 2016. | Perhaps no issue has received as much attention, however, as the cladding, which was installed at Grenfell Tower as part of a renovation that was completed in May 2016. |
| The building contractor and cladding supplier involved in the Grenfell Tower renovation also worked on the refurbishment of another complex, the 717-unit Chalcots Estate in Swiss Cottage, in Northwest London. | The building contractor and cladding supplier involved in the Grenfell Tower renovation also worked on the refurbishment of another complex, the 717-unit Chalcots Estate in Swiss Cottage, in Northwest London. |
| The borough of Camden, which owns that complex, announced on Thursday that the aluminum cladding panels “were not to the standard that we had commissioned.” It also said that it was considering legal action. | The borough of Camden, which owns that complex, announced on Thursday that the aluminum cladding panels “were not to the standard that we had commissioned.” It also said that it was considering legal action. |
| Officials emphasized that Chalcots Estate had “fire-resistant rock wool insulation” and “fire-resistant sealant between floors,” which had helped contain a fire in 2012. Nonetheless, the borough said it would “immediately begin preparing to remove” cladding panels from five towers in the complex. | Officials emphasized that Chalcots Estate had “fire-resistant rock wool insulation” and “fire-resistant sealant between floors,” which had helped contain a fire in 2012. Nonetheless, the borough said it would “immediately begin preparing to remove” cladding panels from five towers in the complex. |
| Justin Walker, 51, who has lived in the estate’s Blashford tower for 12 years, said the news had left him anxious. | Justin Walker, 51, who has lived in the estate’s Blashford tower for 12 years, said the news had left him anxious. |
| “It has caused sleepless nights,” he said. “I’ve been assured by the council that the cladding will be removed as soon as humanly possible, but they don’t know exactly when will that be.” | “It has caused sleepless nights,” he said. “I’ve been assured by the council that the cladding will be removed as soon as humanly possible, but they don’t know exactly when will that be.” |
| Amal Salah, 45, a care worker who lives in the nearby Dorney tower with her husband and four children, said that residents frequently discussed the cladding. | |
| “Whenever we meet downstairs, it is all we talk about,” she said. “We only have one exit route besides the elevators, which you can’t use in a fire. We only have the main staircase. So we just hope that nothing will happen.” | “Whenever we meet downstairs, it is all we talk about,” she said. “We only have one exit route besides the elevators, which you can’t use in a fire. We only have the main staircase. So we just hope that nothing will happen.” |
| Shohre Hosseany, 43, an immigrant from Iran who has lived in London for five years, three of them in the nearby Taplow tower, said she had “cried a lot” for the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire. She said she worried that if a fire broke out in her building — she lives on the 12th floor — she would be unable to escape. “I have arthritis and pains in my back, so if this happened here I would die,” she said. | Shohre Hosseany, 43, an immigrant from Iran who has lived in London for five years, three of them in the nearby Taplow tower, said she had “cried a lot” for the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire. She said she worried that if a fire broke out in her building — she lives on the 12th floor — she would be unable to escape. “I have arthritis and pains in my back, so if this happened here I would die,” she said. |
| 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 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 emphasized 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. | Mrs. May emphasized 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 by two of her ministers, including Philip Hammond, chancellor of the Exchequer, that the kind of cladding used on the tower was illegal under British regulations. | Notably, Mrs. May did not repeat an assertion by two of her ministers, including Philip Hammond, chancellor of the Exchequer, that the kind of cladding used on the tower was illegal under British regulations. |
| If the cladding were illegal, 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 the cladding were illegal, 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 took 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 took 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 being 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. The Metropolitan Police has also 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 also 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 had spread beyond the tower. | 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. |
| Mrs. May’s statements did not mollify her critics, including Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the opposition Labour Party, who said that the residents’ longstanding concerns about fire safety had fallen on deaf ears. | Mrs. May’s statements did not mollify her critics, including Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the opposition Labour Party, who said that the residents’ longstanding concerns about fire safety had fallen on deaf ears. |
| “Working-class people’s voices are ignored, their concerns dismissed, by those in power,” he said. “The Grenfell Tower residents and North Kensington community deserve answers, and thousands of people living in tower blocks around the country need urgent reassurance.” | “Working-class people’s voices are ignored, their concerns dismissed, by those in power,” he said. “The Grenfell Tower residents and North Kensington community deserve answers, and thousands of people living in tower blocks around the country need urgent reassurance.” |
| He said that local councils had reduced fire inspections because of budget cuts, and that combustible cladding needed to be removed from all buildings where it has been installed, 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 where it has been installed, whatever the cost. |