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Material at Center of London Fire Will Not Be Sold for High Rises Material at Center of London Fire Will Not Be Sold for High Rises
(about 1 hour later)
LONDON — Arconic, the American manufacturing company that sold combustible paneling used in Grenfell Tower, a London housing project that was the site of the deadliest fire here in decades, said Monday it would no longer sell the same type of material for use in high rises.LONDON — Arconic, the American manufacturing company that sold combustible paneling used in Grenfell Tower, a London housing project that was the site of the deadliest fire here in decades, said Monday it would no longer sell the same type of material for use in high rises.
“We believe this is the right decision because of the inconsistency of building codes across the world and issues that have arisen in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy regarding code compliance of cladding systems in the context of buildings’ overall designs,” the company said in a statement. “We believe this is the right decision because of the inconsistency of building codes across the world and issues that have arisen in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy regarding code compliance of cladding systems in the context of buildings’ overall designs,” the company said in a statement. “We will continue to fully support the authorities as they investigate this tragedy.”
“We will continue to fully support the authorities as they investigate this tragedy.”
The cladding, known as Reynobond PE, has a combustible core and is already barred in the United States for buildings above a certain height. Arconic is expected to be a central part of litigation over the Grenfell fire that is likely to last for years.The cladding, known as Reynobond PE, has a combustible core and is already barred in the United States for buildings above a certain height. Arconic is expected to be a central part of litigation over the Grenfell fire that is likely to last for years.
Shares of Arconic, which have been falling steadily since the fire, were down more than 4 percent on Monday.Shares of Arconic, which have been falling steadily since the fire, were down more than 4 percent on Monday.
The June 14 fire at the 24-story apartment block has claimed at least 79 lives and forced many more to find accommodation elsewhere. Investigators have found that at least 11 other buildings in Britain are clad in the combustible material, and one local council has evacuated a building over safety concerns. The June 14 fire at the 24-story apartment block has claimed at least 79 lives and forced many more to find accommodation elsewhere. Investigators have found that dozens of other buildings in Britain are clad in the combustible material; one local council has evacuated a building over safety concerns.
The fire at the housing project, located in one of Britain’s wealthiest districts, has heightened frustrations over class inequality. Critics and residents accuse officials at all levels of ignoring repeated warnings of risks to fire safety at Grenfell Tower.The fire at the housing project, located in one of Britain’s wealthiest districts, has heightened frustrations over class inequality. Critics and residents accuse officials at all levels of ignoring repeated warnings of risks to fire safety at Grenfell Tower.
Building residents, industry executives and fire safety experts have all blamed British officials for failing to heed years of warnings — from both inside and outside the country. They have also said Britain’s two major parties have marched headlong to cut safety regulations in the name of promoting business-friendly policies. A formal government inquiry is now underway in Britain.
The cladding was added to the building as part of a renovation that concluded in May 2016.The cladding was added to the building as part of a renovation that concluded in May 2016.
A formal government inquiry is now underway. Tenants, industry executives and fire safety engineers have collectively pointed to a gross failure of oversight, a refusal to heed warnings from within Britain and around the world, and a drive by successive governments from both major parties to cut safety regulations in the name of promoting business-friendly policies. The product, which has been marketed by Arconic in Britain for several years, is made of two sheets of aluminum with polyethylene in between. Initial proponents had argued it was pleasing to the eye, as well as energy efficient because it reflected heat and light.
But the material has been blamed for fires around the world, including in Dubai and China, leading to growing concern about its use. Arconic’s pitch for the product depended on where it was being sold.
Its sales material on the Continent explicitly states that cladding should not be used on facades when buildings are higher than ladders used by firefighters. A company website targeting British customers said that the use of cladding “depends on local building codes.”