Thursday, 28 Mar 2024

More than 200 buildings still have Grenfell tower cladding two years on

On the second anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire, thousands of residents are still living in buildings built with similar combustible cladding.

Some 328 buildings are said to still have aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding two years on from the disaster that left 72 people dead.

According to figures from the Building Safety Programme (BSP) obtained by the BBC, 221 UK buildings are yet to see cladding removal works begin.

The BSP’s figures were published after survivors and relatives of those killed in the blaze reiterated a call for urgent fire safety recommendations to be made, saying such a move ‘could save lives’.

Now lawyers for some of the affected families are calling again for urgent steps to be taken on ‘basic fire safety measures’ to prevent a similar disaster.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government told the BBC that the government has banned combustible materials in the external walls of new high-rise homes.


A spokesperson added: ‘Guidance requires that sprinklers must be installed in new buildings above 30 metres.

‘Building owners are ultimately responsible for the safety of the building and it is for them to decide whether to retro-fit sprinklers.’

But some survivors have become frustrated that safety recommendations, such as abandoning the ‘stay-put’ policy for buildings over 10 storeys, are yet to be implemented.

Clarita Ghavimi, who managed to escape from the tower block, said: ‘We know that many issues will need more expert evidence and further investigation.

‘But some things can be done now – a full review of the ‘stay-put’ policy by the fire brigade, basic safety measures in high rise blocks, like clear signs, clearly marked floor numbers, effective emergency lighting, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

‘These steps do not need more evidence. They should start now, and could save lives.’

Survivors and family members said they feel an inquiry into the disaster has not delivered and argue their voices are not being heard.

The inquiry’s first report – which will focus on what happened on the night of the fire – was due to be published in spring but has been delayed until October.

Inquiry chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick has previously said he does not consider it appropriate to make interim recommendations ahead of the report and any recommendations he makes will be limited to the first phase.

As of the end of May, 105 other high-rise buildings that had previously failed safety tests have had work to remove the cladding completed.

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