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| Refurbishment turned Grenfell Tower from safe structure into major fire hazard, says leaked report | Refurbishment turned Grenfell Tower from safe structure into major fire hazard, says leaked report |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Grenfell Tower fire that claimed 71 lives would not have spread beyond a single flat if it had started before a refurbishment that saw it clad in flammable materials, a leaked report has revealed. | The Grenfell Tower fire that claimed 71 lives would not have spread beyond a single flat if it had started before a refurbishment that saw it clad in flammable materials, a leaked report has revealed. |
| The findings by fire investigation experts BRS Global, uncovered by the Evening Standard, reveal serious deficiencies in the installation of the windows, cavity barriers and cladding system, and their failure to meet building regulations. | The findings by fire investigation experts BRS Global, uncovered by the Evening Standard, reveal serious deficiencies in the installation of the windows, cavity barriers and cladding system, and their failure to meet building regulations. |
| It states that the fire would have remained confined to Flat 16 — the flat of origin — and would not have claimed even a single life if the original facade of the building had not been re-clad between 2014 and 2016. | |
| The draft report, dated 31 January 2018, was submitted to the Metropolitan Police Service as part of its investigation. The force has not yet responded to a request for comment. | |
| It finds not only that the cladding material and insulation was combustible, but also serious deficiencies in the design and installation of the windows and cavity barriers, which are critical in preventing a chimney-like effect in the event of a fire. | |
| It states: “Grenfell Tower, as originally built, appears to have been designed on the premise of providing very high levels of passive fire protection. | |
| “The original facade of Grenfell Tower, comprising exposed concrete and, given its age, likely timber or metal frame windows, would not have provided a medium for fire spread up the external surface. | |
| “In BRE’s opinion … there would have been little opportunity for a fire in a flat of Grenfell Tower to spread to any neighbouring flats.” | |
| More follows.. | More follows.. |