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| Grenfell Tower: Sixty blocks 'fail new fire test' | Grenfell Tower: Sixty blocks 'fail new fire test' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Cladding and insulation used in at least 60 tower blocks has failed a new fire safety test, the BBC understands. | Cladding and insulation used in at least 60 tower blocks has failed a new fire safety test, the BBC understands. |
| The test was more thorough than previous checks after the Grenfell Tower fire, which just examined cladding from high-rise buildings. | The test was more thorough than previous checks after the Grenfell Tower fire, which just examined cladding from high-rise buildings. |
| The new test checked the cladding in combination with the foam insulation that was used in Grenfell. | The new test checked the cladding in combination with the foam insulation that was used in Grenfell. |
| It is thought nine blocks in Salford are the only local government-owned buildings to be affected so far. | It is thought nine blocks in Salford are the only local government-owned buildings to be affected so far. |
| Local Government Association chairman Lord Porter said housing associations and private sector landlords will be among those that own the 60 tower blocks which failed the new fire test. | Local Government Association chairman Lord Porter said housing associations and private sector landlords will be among those that own the 60 tower blocks which failed the new fire test. |
| He added that intellectual property rights on the installation of cladding systems means the identification of tower blocks affected by fire safety issues may not be made public. | He added that intellectual property rights on the installation of cladding systems means the identification of tower blocks affected by fire safety issues may not be made public. |
| Previous tests of cladding and insulation were done by turning the material into powder and setting it off with a spark. But the newest test was done in real-world conditions, where cladding and insulation is built on a vertical rig and set alight. | Previous tests of cladding and insulation were done by turning the material into powder and setting it off with a spark. But the newest test was done in real-world conditions, where cladding and insulation is built on a vertical rig and set alight. |
| The Department for Communities and Local Government will publish its full findings of the "whole system fire test", along with guidance, later this morning. | The Department for Communities and Local Government will publish its full findings of the "whole system fire test", along with guidance, later this morning. |
| At least 80 people died in the Grenfell Tower fire in North Kensington on 14 June. | At least 80 people died in the Grenfell Tower fire in North Kensington on 14 June. |
| The test - conducted by the Building Research Establishment near Watford - involved starting a fire underneath a large-scale mock-up of the insulation system used at Grenfell. | The test - conducted by the Building Research Establishment near Watford - involved starting a fire underneath a large-scale mock-up of the insulation system used at Grenfell. |
| The mock-up used a so-called PIR plastic foam, a type of combustible insulation, and aluminium panels with a combustible polyethylene plastic core. | The mock-up used a so-called PIR plastic foam, a type of combustible insulation, and aluminium panels with a combustible polyethylene plastic core. |
| This is the most flammable of the six combinations of insulation and cladding that will be tested. | This is the most flammable of the six combinations of insulation and cladding that will be tested. |
| Previously the core of cladding from tower blocks was tested, but Lord Porter said: "It was fairly evident from the Grenfell fire that there was more than just the panels that was a fire risk on that building." | Previously the core of cladding from tower blocks was tested, but Lord Porter said: "It was fairly evident from the Grenfell fire that there was more than just the panels that was a fire risk on that building." |
| Salford Council had already said it expected its towers to fail. | Salford Council had already said it expected its towers to fail. |
| The nine blocks built in the 1960s were re-clad recently with shiny coloured panels, and insulation to cut energy bills. | The nine blocks built in the 1960s were re-clad recently with shiny coloured panels, and insulation to cut energy bills. |
| One resident told the BBC it was "like sitting on a tinderbox". | One resident told the BBC it was "like sitting on a tinderbox". |
| Crisis management expert Prof Edward Borodzicz said: "For the people who live in these buildings, this must be extremely concerning as their buildings have the exact same setup as Grenfell Tower." | |
| He added there could be a case for evacuating people from towers with unsafe cladding and insulation combinations. | |
| Salford had already begun removing cladding and the process will continue. | Salford had already begun removing cladding and the process will continue. |
| Deputy mayor John Merry said tests would take place in August to ensure new cladding systems "meets the necessary safety standards". | Deputy mayor John Merry said tests would take place in August to ensure new cladding systems "meets the necessary safety standards". |
| Some housing associations in Greater Manchester have changed their "stay put" fire safety policy to a full evacuation of the buildings following advice from the fire brigade. | Some housing associations in Greater Manchester have changed their "stay put" fire safety policy to a full evacuation of the buildings following advice from the fire brigade. |
| It is likely to cost the authority tens of millions of pounds and it is asking for help from central government. | It is likely to cost the authority tens of millions of pounds and it is asking for help from central government. |
| Lord Porter said he hoped the Treasury would provide some of the money required by local government to replace cladding. | Lord Porter said he hoped the Treasury would provide some of the money required by local government to replace cladding. |
| Chancellor Phillip Hammond said "no required safety work will not go ahead because of lack of funding". | Chancellor Phillip Hammond said "no required safety work will not go ahead because of lack of funding". |
| He added that some local authorities and housing associations would have "reserves" to fund the works, or "access to borrowing" money. | He added that some local authorities and housing associations would have "reserves" to fund the works, or "access to borrowing" money. |
| Prof Borodzicz said: "I'm surprised having identified the faulty cladding that there's even a discussion over who's going to pay for it. | |
| "This is something where central government should take responsibility." | |
| The test results come after police investigating the Grenfell Tower fire told residents they have "reasonable grounds" to suspect that corporate manslaughter offences may have been committed by Kensington and Chelsea Council and the tenant management organisation that ran the block . | The test results come after police investigating the Grenfell Tower fire told residents they have "reasonable grounds" to suspect that corporate manslaughter offences may have been committed by Kensington and Chelsea Council and the tenant management organisation that ran the block . |
| Senior executives are likely to be interviewed under caution. | Senior executives are likely to be interviewed under caution. |
| Building regulations were described as a "complete and utter mess" by chartered surveyor Arnold Tarling. | Building regulations were described as a "complete and utter mess" by chartered surveyor Arnold Tarling. |
| He believes that not enough has been done by the government to improve tower block fire safety | He believes that not enough has been done by the government to improve tower block fire safety |
| He said: "As far as my [understanding] of the regulations, nothing has been done that's wrong [in Grenfell's case]." | He said: "As far as my [understanding] of the regulations, nothing has been done that's wrong [in Grenfell's case]." |
| Meanwhile, the site manager at Grenfell Tower, Michael Lockwood, has told a public meeting the building would be covered in a protective wrap in August. | Meanwhile, the site manager at Grenfell Tower, Michael Lockwood, has told a public meeting the building would be covered in a protective wrap in August. |
| He said that he expected the demolition of the tower block would begin "towards the end of 2018". | He said that he expected the demolition of the tower block would begin "towards the end of 2018". |
| Have you been notified that your building is at risk? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. | Have you been notified that your building is at risk? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |