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Grenfell Tower: Review does not urge cladding ban Grenfell Tower: Review does not urge cladding ban
(35 minutes later)
A review of building regulations set up after the Grenfell tragedy has called for a "radical rethink" of the safety system, but has stopped short of proposing a ban on flammable cladding.A review of building regulations set up after the Grenfell tragedy has called for a "radical rethink" of the safety system, but has stopped short of proposing a ban on flammable cladding.
Report author Dame Judith Hackitt said indifference and ignorance had led to cost being prioritised over safety.Report author Dame Judith Hackitt said indifference and ignorance had led to cost being prioritised over safety.
She said some building firms used ambiguity around the rules to "game the system", and called for a regulator.She said some building firms used ambiguity around the rules to "game the system", and called for a regulator.
Grenfell survivors had backed a ban on using combustible materials in blocks.Grenfell survivors had backed a ban on using combustible materials in blocks.
Cladding is thought to have contributed to the rapid spread of fire in west London's Grenfell Tower last June, in which 71 people died.Cladding is thought to have contributed to the rapid spread of fire in west London's Grenfell Tower last June, in which 71 people died.
'She didn't listen''She didn't listen'
A subsequent operation identified hundreds of other buildings where cladding failed safety tests.A subsequent operation identified hundreds of other buildings where cladding failed safety tests.
And the Royal Institute of British Architects called for a ban on flammable cladding, a requirement for sprinklers to be fitted and a second means of escape for high-rise residential buildings. And the Royal Institute of British Architects called for a ban on flammable cladding, a requirement for sprinklers to be fitted, and a second means of escape for high-rise residential buildings.
Shahin Sadafi, chairman of Grenfell United, which represents survivors and the bereaved, said they were "disappointed and saddened that she (Dame Judith) she didn't listen to us and she didn't listen to other experts".Shahin Sadafi, chairman of Grenfell United, which represents survivors and the bereaved, said they were "disappointed and saddened that she (Dame Judith) she didn't listen to us and she didn't listen to other experts".
Labour MP David Lammy said it was "unfathomable" that the review had not recommended an outright ban on such materials, while Labour's Kensington MP Emma Dent Coad said regulating the current system was not the answer. Labour's shadow housing minister Sarah Jones told the BBC that the review was a "huge wasted opportunity" and that Dame Judith's recommendations did not go far enough.
The independent review, commissioned by the government, has been looking into regulations around the design, construction and management of buildings in relation to fire safety. Labour MP David Lammy said it was "unfathomable" that the review had not recommended an outright ban on combustible materials, while Labour's Kensington MP Emma Dent Coad said regulating the current system was not the answer.
'Ambiguous and unclear' The independent review, commissioned by the government, looked into regulations around the design, construction and management of buildings in relation to fire safety.
In her final 156-page report, Dame Judith - a senior engineer who used to chair the Health and Safety Executive - highlighted ignorance about rules governing the industry, and a lack of clarity about who takes responsibility for them. The final 156-page report found that:
She said: "Currently regulations and guidance are not always read by those who need to, and when they do the guidance is misunderstood and misinterpreted." Dame Judith - a senior engineer who used to chair the Health and Safety Executive - said: "The above issues have helped to create a cultural issue across the sector, which can be described as a 'race to the bottom', caused either through indifference, or because the system does not facilitate good practice."
This was also because such guidance was "ambiguous and unclear", she said. But Dame Judith did not call for a ban on materials capable of burning from tall buildings, saying that prohibiting certain practices would "not address the root causes" of the problems.
"The above issues have helped to create a cultural issue across the sector, which can be described as a 'race to the bottom', caused either through indifference, or because the system does not facilitate good practice," she said. She recommended that a "simple and effective mechanism" for driving building safety was needed and called for incentives for the right behaviour and tougher penalties for those who breach regulation.
Dame Judith said the process for testing and certifying products was "disjointed, confusing, unhelpful and lacking any sort of transparency".
But she did not call for a ban on materials capable of burning from tall buildings, saying that prohibiting certain practises would "not address the root causes" of the problems.
Her key findings include:
She recommended that a "simple and effective mechanism" for driving building safety was needed and called for incentives for the right behaviour and sanctions for poor performance.
'Unthinkable''Unthinkable'
But Grenfell United's Mr Sadafi said: "We need to hear from government a clear promise that these dangerous materials will never be used on homes again."But Grenfell United's Mr Sadafi said: "We need to hear from government a clear promise that these dangerous materials will never be used on homes again."
Khadijah Mamudu, daughter of a Grenfell survivor, told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme that the review was "absolutely ridiculous".
"She's stopped short of doing the most important thing - banning them (cladding)," she said. "People can't sleep at night people are scared at night. How does this make any sense?"
Reacting to the report, Mr Lammy said: "It is unthinkable and unacceptable that so many people can die in a disaster like Grenfell and one year on flammable cladding has not been banned.Reacting to the report, Mr Lammy said: "It is unthinkable and unacceptable that so many people can die in a disaster like Grenfell and one year on flammable cladding has not been banned.
"I simply fail to see how it is deemed appropriate for any combustible material to be used on any tower block in this country.""I simply fail to see how it is deemed appropriate for any combustible material to be used on any tower block in this country."
And Labour's Ms Dent Coat said the review was "a total betrayal", and called for the government to take action. Labour's Ms Dent Coad said the review was "a total betrayal", and called for the government to take action.
"Why are we having to say this? Ban flammable cladding," she said."Why are we having to say this? Ban flammable cladding," she said.
And Lord Porter, Local Government Association chairman, said it was "disappointing" that the review stopped short of recommending a ban on combustible materials.
He also questioned the lack of a ban on "desktop studies" - which the report instead recommends are significantly restricted.
Desktop studies are a method of assessment used if a developer wishes to follow plans similar to a setup which has already been fire-tested.
Lord Porter said the government should "act without delay" to introduce a temporary ban "until we have a regulatory and testing system which is fit for the 21st Century".
In response to the criticism, Dame Judith said she was open to seeing combustible cladding banned in future.
"I have tried to fix the system, irrespective of what the next problem might be, not just the problem with cladding," she said.
Dame Judith's appointment to lead the review had been met with some criticism due to her former role as director of the Energy Saving Trust. The organisation promotes insulation containing a foam known as polyisocyanurate (PIR), blamed for fuelling the fire at Grenfell.Dame Judith's appointment to lead the review had been met with some criticism due to her former role as director of the Energy Saving Trust. The organisation promotes insulation containing a foam known as polyisocyanurate (PIR), blamed for fuelling the fire at Grenfell.
But the government said Dame Judith was "an independent and authoritative voice".But the government said Dame Judith was "an independent and authoritative voice".
Her review is aimed at making sure similar events do not happen in the future. It is separate to the judge-led inquiry into the Grenfell fire, which will start taking evidence on 21 May.Her review is aimed at making sure similar events do not happen in the future. It is separate to the judge-led inquiry into the Grenfell fire, which will start taking evidence on 21 May.
On Wednesday, the government announced a £400m operation to remove dangerous cladding from tower blocks owned by councils and housing associations.On Wednesday, the government announced a £400m operation to remove dangerous cladding from tower blocks owned by councils and housing associations.