Twenty London high-rises with Grenfell cladding system

Aaron Morby 7 years ago
Share

At least 20 high-rise blocks in London are believed to have a similar cladding system to that fitted on the Grenfell tower.

Ferrier Point in Canning Town is one of 20 London buildings believed to be fitted with a similar aluminium rainscreen system
Ferrier Point in Canning Town is one of 20 London buildings believed to be fitted with a similar aluminium rainscreen system

Research by the Enquirer found that social housing buildings across the capital have been fitted with similar aluminium cassette rainscreen cladding to that used on the west London tower block which was engulfed in an inferno killing at least 17 people.

The buildings – which range from 11 to 23 storeys – have all been retrofitted by cladding contractor Harley Facades.

There is no suggestion that the contractor failed to fit the systems properly.

But the use of similar aluminium rainscreen cladding raises the prospect that the buildings may be at risk until investigators find whether materials, design or installation issues contributed to the Grenfell tower disaster.

Investigators looking into the Grenfell fire are now probing whether cheaper aluminium panels with a flammable plastic core were used on the building.

The cladding used is believed to have been sourced from US-based Reynobond.

The firm makes three types of panel: one with a flammable polyethylene core and two with more fire-resistant cores sandwiched between two thin aluminium skins.

The polyethylene core, known as PE, is banned from being used in the US on buildings taller 12m for fire safety reasons.

Questions are also being raised about the performance of widely-used expanded polystyrene insulation fitted behind the rainscreening to insulate buildings.

Jon O’Neil, managing director of the Fire Protection Association, said that this type of material initially charred in fire tests and then within a short space of time fire got into the expanded polystyrene, shooting up the test panels.

He added that in social housing widely used insulation materials of choice tended to be combustible or of limited combustibility.

O’Neil said:”It’s very rare that I have seen installed in residential accommodation non-combustible insulation material.”

Insulation supplier Celotex yesterday confirmed its product, known as RS5000, was purchased for use in refurbishing the building.

The products has class O fire performance and is specifically designed for use in high-rise rainscreen cladding systems.

The issues raised will be of concern to the Government public enquiry called by Theresa May yesterday.

MPs have also demanded a much faster response to reassure tenants in buildings both in the capital and rest of the country.

Conservative MP Chris Philp said: “There must be an early interim report after a matter of a few weeks.

“If there is any critical failing, for example like the cladding is highly flammable, which people are suggesting, we need to know about that in a matter of weeks.

“If there are other buildings with this cladding, if it is found to be flammable, then we must move people out.”

 

20 London towers that may be at risk

Castlemain Tower – Wandsworth – 21-storey tower

Chalcot Estate – Camden – five up to 23-storey towers

Clements Court – Hounslow – 13-storey tower

Escale (formerly City Gate House) – Gants Hill – 14-storey

Ferrier Point – Newham – 23-storey tower

Little Venice – Westminster – six 23-storey towers

Premier House – Edgware – 13-storey tower

Wates Tower – Croydon – four 11-storey towers

Latest news

Wates wins former Daily Mail printworks transformation

British Land advances major cultural venue at London’s Canada Water
8 hours ago

Mace poaches Ramboll chief to be Head of Engineering

Martin Feakes will develop civil and structural engineering offer at Mace
8 hours ago

Subcontractors form alliance for major civils jobs

Trio of specialists join forces to collaborate and offer Tier 1 contractors a turnkey solution
12 hours ago

Fear of supply chain failures boosting collaboration

Procurement survey also reveals project bank account use is rising
11 hours ago

Wates sets up business to target 160,000 mouldy social homes

Healthy Homes service will be offered to social landlords across England
12 hours ago

Higgins wins £75m Peabody Passive House job

Latest phase of Deptford Landings to start construction
12 hours ago

Contractors and unions agree Sizewell C working deal

New deal offers improved sick pay and parental leave over Hinkley Point deal
23 hours ago

Competition chiefs win legal fight for more construction raids

High Court rules CMA officials can raid a domestic property as part of investigation
1 day ago

More Osborne companies file administration notices

Three more divisions lodge notices with court
2 days ago

McLaren wins multi-storey urban logistics contract

South London win with British Land is pioneering urban logistics hub
1 day ago

Big social housing schemes at risk over funding uncertainty

Housing associations warn uncertainty over public funding beyond 2026 is curbing new schemes
1 day ago

Kier wins Worcestershire town centre renewal

Firm secures Bromsgrove commercial and cultural hub project
1 day ago

BAM signs Kent school contract at £42m

Sevenoaks school rebuild signed off at £8m more than first estimates
1 day ago

RG Group signs £121m Newcastle rental homes job

Developer Olympian Homes advances 519 flats plan at Pottery Lane site
4 days ago

Geoffrey Osborne files administration notice

Contractor in talks to save parts of the business
5 days ago

Winners named for £260m Manchester Uni framework

B&K, Henry Bros, Graham, Robertson and Vinci among new line-up
4 days ago

Shed specialist Benniman rides out market lull

Worcestershire warehouse builder says industrial and logistics work is picking up again
4 days ago

Another contractor cleared after high profile immigration raid

Adana Construction employees were working legally on site swooped on by Home Office
4 days ago

McAleer & Rushe wants to meet new London suppliers

Contractor holding Meet the Buyer event in London: Register now
4 days ago

McAlpine signs £500m Broadgate dual towers deal

Work to start on iconic 36-storey and 21-storey towers
5 days ago

Worker rescued from collapsed four metre deep trench

Fire crews take six hours to save trapped builder near Blackwall Tunnel
5 days ago

Gove puts another major building scheme on hold

Secretary of State starts another planning fight after M&S defeat
6 days ago

Greenwich University tenders £300m framework

Up to five firms will carry out upgrade and newbuild work at three campuses
6 days ago

Work starts on Manchester 26-storey Obsidian tower

Contractor Domis starts Salboy's 10th Manchester scheme in seven years
5 days ago

Race for £1.3bn West Midlands social homes framework

The Community Housing Group reboots tender race for new build housing
5 days ago

Delancey submits £400m King’s Cross lab plans

200,000 sq ft lab/office project will be built above railway and tube tunnels just 4.5m below
6 days ago

Winners revealed for £150m fire safety framework

New deal will help organisations comply with the Building Safety Act
5 days ago

Sellar plans £500m City tower next to Walkie-Talkie

Consultation starts on London 60 Gracechurch Street tower
6 days ago

Severfield ends year on high with record order book

Orders top £500m with strong future pipeline of opportunities ahead
6 days ago

Second senior director exits National Highways

Commercial director Malcolm Dare set to move on to new role
7 days ago

Contractor services