Category Archive

Trauma patients moved over ‘serious’ cladding issues A hospital trauma building is closing for a year due to concerns about fire safety following the Grenfell Tower tragedy. The trauma unit at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford is to move from its current site “for up to 12 months” while improvements are made. By Nick Stylianou, Sky News Reporter A hospital …

Govt’s fire safety advisers ‘are not neutral’ The company testing cladding and insulation for the Government after the Grenfell Tower fire has a conflict of interest and is not neutral, according to a respected academic. Professor Richard Hull, a chemistry and fire science expert from the University of Central Lancashire, has accused the Building Research Establishment (BRE) of having an …

Fire safety double standard revealed Improved fire safety standards that could have prevented the Grenfell Tower disaster are promoted to businesses by the same company that advises the Government on building regulations. Fire experts say the combustible cladding blamed for the rapidly spreading fire in Grenfell Tower could never have been fitted under the stricter standards. By Gerard Tubb, Sky …

Grenfell lawyer questions role of two experts A lawyer acting for some of the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire has questioned the appointment of two experts by the Government to ensure tower blocks are safe in the future. Jolyon Maugham QC says Sir Ken Knight and Peter Bonfield are “tainted by association” through their links to advice given to …

New fire panel chair advised against sprinklers The panel appointed to “make all public and private buildings safe as quickly as possible” following the Grenfell Tower fire is to be chaired by a former chief fire and rescue officer who advised against retrospective fitting of sprinklers. By Gerard Tubb, Sky News Correspondent, and Nick Stylianou, Sky News Reporter The panel …

Govt experts reported cladding ‘risks’ in 2016 The Government was told last year by its own fire investigators that tower blocks were covered in flammable material – but were also told building regulations were “adequate”. The advice was given by the same fire risk experts who are currently testing the cladding on 600 tower blocks – and so far failing …

Fire-resistant cladding promised at Grenfell By Gerard Tubb, Sky News Correspondent and Nick Stylianou, Sky News Reporter – Exclusive Residents of Grenfell Tower were promised that fire-resistant cladding would be fitted to their building in 2012, before plans were changed and a cheaper, flammable covering was fitted. Decorative cladding called Reynobond PE was fitted to the outside of the west …

London terror attack: Panic as families evacuated On the floor of a packed pub, parents were wondering how their early night in a nearby Premier Inn ended up like this. “We were just settling down after Britain’s Got Talent and we heard the fire alarm,” said Paul Cochran, who had brought his wife and young twins from Ireland to see …