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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 will be deemed to have failed a new fire safety test, the BBC understands. | |
| The test was more thorough than previous checks after the Grenfell Tower fire, which only tested cladding. | |
| 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 mean 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 mean 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." | |
| He added there could be a case for evacuating people from towers with unsafe cladding and insulation combinations. | 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 "meet the necessary safety standards". | Deputy mayor John Merry said tests would take place in August to ensure new cladding systems "meet 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. | 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." | "This is something where central government should take responsibility." |
| Separately, a man has denied pretending his family died in the Grenfell Tower fire in order to get money from the victim relief fund. | Separately, a man has denied pretending his family died in the Grenfell Tower fire in order to get money from the victim relief fund. |
| Anh Nhu Nguyen, 52, pleaded not guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation at Southwark Crown Court on Friday. | Anh Nhu Nguyen, 52, pleaded not guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation at Southwark Crown Court on Friday. |
| Mr Nguyen, of Beckenham, south-east London, is accused of posing as a victim for about a fortnight, in order to allegedly obtain £10,000 from Kensington and Chelsea Council and charities. | Mr Nguyen, of Beckenham, south-east London, is accused of posing as a victim for about a fortnight, in order to allegedly obtain £10,000 from Kensington and Chelsea Council and charities. |
| It is claimed he was given a hotel room, food, electrical items and cash at the relief hub. | It is claimed he was given a hotel room, food, electrical items and cash at the relief hub. |
| He was remanded in custody and his trial is expected to take place in early December. | He was remanded in custody and his trial is expected to take place in early December. |
| 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 |