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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Council 'made death tower unsafe' | Council 'made death tower unsafe' |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| By Ed Davey BBC News, London | By Ed Davey BBC News, London |
| Council 'made death tower unsafe' | Council 'made death tower unsafe' |
| The flatmate of a victim of the Lakanal House tower block fire has told how flames that gutted their neighbouring flat in 1995 were safely contained. | The flatmate of a victim of the Lakanal House tower block fire has told how flames that gutted their neighbouring flat in 1995 were safely contained. |
| It suggests the tower block in Camberwell, south London, was at the time fire safe - before a major refurbishment was carried out by Southwark Council in 1997. | It suggests the tower block in Camberwell, south London, was at the time fire safe - before a major refurbishment was carried out by Southwark Council in 1997. |
| In July this year six people died in Lakanal House when fire spread from flat to flat with speed that shocked experts. | In July this year six people died in Lakanal House when fire spread from flat to flat with speed that shocked experts. |
| But Andrew Aveling, a musician who shared a flat with fashion designer Catherine Hickman, who died in July's fire, has told how a similar fire 14 years ago was contained in the next-door property. | But Andrew Aveling, a musician who shared a flat with fashion designer Catherine Hickman, who died in July's fire, has told how a similar fire 14 years ago was contained in the next-door property. |
| 'Did not travel' | 'Did not travel' |
| He said of the 1995 blaze: "I was surprised my flat had not caught fire - it was all contained in the flat which was alight. | He said of the 1995 blaze: "I was surprised my flat had not caught fire - it was all contained in the flat which was alight. |
| "That flat was completely gutted - it was an intense fire and everything was melted. | "That flat was completely gutted - it was an intense fire and everything was melted. |
| The devil in Southwark's details | The devil in Southwark's details |
| "The firefighters could not put it out, they had to wait for it to burn out. But it did not travel." | "The firefighters could not put it out, they had to wait for it to burn out. But it did not travel." |
| But when Lakanal House caught fire again in 2009, it was a different story. | But when Lakanal House caught fire again in 2009, it was a different story. |
| Although the flames started on a completely different floor to Mr Aveling's flat, his property was soon engulfed, killing his 31-year-old flatmate in 20 minutes. | Although the flames started on a completely different floor to Mr Aveling's flat, his property was soon engulfed, killing his 31-year-old flatmate in 20 minutes. |
| Between the two fires PVC windows and cladding were installed in 2007. | Between the two fires PVC windows and cladding were installed in 2007. |
| Mr Aveling said: "The council replaced the wooden frames, which would have taken a lot longer to burn through. | Mr Aveling said: "The council replaced the wooden frames, which would have taken a lot longer to burn through. |
| "These were replaced with [plastic] frames - they melted and flames were able to get through." | "These were replaced with [plastic] frames - they melted and flames were able to get through." |
| 'Complex investigation' | 'Complex investigation' |
| A retired architect who worked on the building of Lakanal House and a social housing expert have both told BBC London they believe the PVC frames were a probable cause of rapid fire spread in July. | A retired architect who worked on the building of Lakanal House and a social housing expert have both told BBC London they believe the PVC frames were a probable cause of rapid fire spread in July. |
| Bill Solman, who, as an architect, helped build Lakanal House in 1959, installing timber window frames, said: "Timber has limitations, but it's better than plastic which melts. Plastic gives off cyanide fumes and burns fiercely." | Bill Solman, who, as an architect, helped build Lakanal House in 1959, installing timber window frames, said: "Timber has limitations, but it's better than plastic which melts. Plastic gives off cyanide fumes and burns fiercely." |
| ANALYSIS The BBC has now highlighted the following missed chances to have saved lives in Lakanal House: A 2000 parliamentary report warning about dangers from plastic external cladding being ignoredSouthwark Council knowing Lakanal House was a fire risk but not taking proper measuresSouthwark Council failing to carry out a legally required fire risk assessment that could have warned of the dangerLondon Fire Brigade telling people to stay in their flats because they believed properties would offer an hour's fire protection - they provided 20 minutes | ANALYSIS The BBC has now highlighted the following missed chances to have saved lives in Lakanal House: A 2000 parliamentary report warning about dangers from plastic external cladding being ignoredSouthwark Council knowing Lakanal House was a fire risk but not taking proper measuresSouthwark Council failing to carry out a legally required fire risk assessment that could have warned of the dangerLondon Fire Brigade telling people to stay in their flats because they believed properties would offer an hour's fire protection - they provided 20 minutes |
| Of the 2009 Lakanal fire, he said: "I began to look at the evidence and think plastic windows were the problem. | Of the 2009 Lakanal fire, he said: "I began to look at the evidence and think plastic windows were the problem. |
| "The blocks went through building control procedures before they were built - so why would this awful thing happen? | "The blocks went through building control procedures before they were built - so why would this awful thing happen? |
| "The windows were the main cause of the surface flame spread." | "The windows were the main cause of the surface flame spread." |
| A Southwark Council spokesperson said: "There was a fire more than 10 years ago at Lakanal in which no-one died. | A Southwark Council spokesperson said: "There was a fire more than 10 years ago at Lakanal in which no-one died. |
| "We are as anxious as everyone to find out why the fire in July this year spread as it did." | "We are as anxious as everyone to find out why the fire in July this year spread as it did." |
| The spokesperson said a "complex police investigation into all aspects of that fire is ongoing". | The spokesperson said a "complex police investigation into all aspects of that fire is ongoing". |
| After Southwark Council completed the 2007 work it failed to carry out a legally-required fire risk assessment which could have highlighted the problems. | After Southwark Council completed the 2007 work it failed to carry out a legally-required fire risk assessment which could have highlighted the problems. |
| 'Cheap option' | 'Cheap option' |
| When the UK's tower blocks were first built they almost all had wooden window frames. | When the UK's tower blocks were first built they almost all had wooden window frames. |
| But cheaper maintenance costs means many councils, including Southwark, replaced them with PVC frames. | But cheaper maintenance costs means many councils, including Southwark, replaced them with PVC frames. |
| Tony Bird, an independent expert in social housing who works as a consultant for housing associations and councils, said of the plastic frames: "You can see in the film [of the Lakanal fire] how it melted. | Tony Bird, an independent expert in social housing who works as a consultant for housing associations and councils, said of the plastic frames: "You can see in the film [of the Lakanal fire] how it melted. |
| "It weakens the whole facade." | "It weakens the whole facade." |
| And Mr Bird warned councils across Britain use the "experimental material" to save money. | And Mr Bird warned councils across Britain use the "experimental material" to save money. |
| He said: "Until things like this terrible fire happen I don't think fire safety is on the agenda when they are choosing windows. | He said: "Until things like this terrible fire happen I don't think fire safety is on the agenda when they are choosing windows. |
| "They go for the cheap option - anything other than PVC is rejected." | "They go for the cheap option - anything other than PVC is rejected." |