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Smoke billows from the fire that engulfed the 24-storey Grenfell Tower in west London last June
“OBVIOUS dangers” were introduced into the design of Grenfell Tower without any proper regulatory oversight, experts declared today as the public inquiry into the deadly inferno started hearing evidence.
In reports published by the inquiry, several experts were highly critical of the block’s refurbishment, the regulatory system which was meant to ensure the building’s safety and the testing of material used in the cladding
Dr Barbara Lane said there was a “culture of non-compliance” over fire safety measures, adding that the building’s cladding resulted in a “disproportionately high probability of fire spread,” meaning the London Fire Brigade’s “stay put” advice had “effectively failed” within half an hour.
As we approach the half-anniversary of the Grenfell tragedy, the community gathers to remember loved ones while grappling with mixed emotions surrounding the ongoing deconstruction of the tower and the hopeful plans for a memorial, writes EMMA DENT COAD
