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Grenfell Tower rewrapping paused due to coronavirus safety guidance
The rewrapping of Grenfell Tower has been paused due to coronavirus, while environmental checks could also be put on hold.
The government said that in response to the pandemic “the rewrapping of the tower has been paused to avoid staff going onsite or using public transport”.
The remains of Grenfell Tower, which was destroyed in a fire in 2017 and claimed 72 lives, is now wrapped in two layers of protective material, the outer layer of which must be updated once a year.
“The rewrapping progressed well in March, and the remaining ‘older’ wrapping on the lower floors is in good condition,” a government update to the Grenfell community said.
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“We do not believe pausing the rewrapping is a cause for concern,” it added.
The announcement comes despite government guidance which has allowed construction sites to remain open.
But the note also suggested work around environmental testing could be delayed.
The second stage of testing for land contamination around the Grenfell Tower site will be more detailed than stage one, which found that levels of chemicals in the soil were consistent with those generally found in London.
“We are now reviewing our plans for stage two to see when and how this work can continue safely and how residents can be involved, in response to the latest government advice on COVID-19,” the note said.
Government guidance published this week said that remediation work on cladding could continue despite the coronavirus outbreak.
