WIREDGOV

Lord Porter, Local Government Association Chairman, responded to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety: Next Steps report

“The tragedy that unfolded at Grenfell Tower must never be allowed to happen again and we must ensure that those who live, work and visit high-rise and high-risk buildings are safe.

“There is increasing evidence that the BS8414 test – which tests the fire performance of external cladding and insulation systems - cannot be relied upon. Flaws with the testing process have been exposed time and again since the Grenfell Tower fire.

“The evidence from real fires in real tower blocks shows that using combustible materials on the external walls of high-rise buildings kills people. We continue to strongly urge the Government to ban the use of any combustible materials - including cladding panels, insulation and other materials - on the external walls of high-rise and high-risk buildings.

“It is wrong for anyone to argue that it might be more appropriate for the ban on combustible materials to focus on banning some combustible cladding panels while allowing the continued use of other combustible materials in cladding systems.

“Implementation of the recommendations from Dame Judith’s final report, and the culture change she seeks in the construction industry will take time. However building owners, the construction industry and regulators need about clarity now about what they can and cannot put on the side of the buildings. The safest and most unambiguous way of providing that clarity is to ban the use of combustible materials on the external walls of high-rise and high-risk buildings without delay.”

View report here