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MPs to grill ministers over fire safety test 'doctoring' claims
Labour MPs will pressure the government to investigate claims official fire safety tests have been ‘doctored’ by insulation manufacturers.
On Friday Inside Housing revealed leaked meeting notes from insulation giant Kingspan claimed other manufacturers had ‘doctored’ reports.
Reacting to the news, Karen Buck, a Labour MP who represents north Westminster, said: “These latest revelations further challenge the robustness and credibility of tower block fire safety testing systems.
“Residents need the strongest assurances from government and we will be seeking answers from ministers in the light of the information published by Inside Housing.”
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Kingspan has said the notes reflected “idle speculation” at the meeting, which was held in September.
It is understood the party is planning an urgent question on building regulations and fire safety today.
The meeting notes claimed reports of official tests - known as BS-8414 tests - had been “doctored” by manufacturers other than Kingspan.
BS-8414 tests involve building a model wall comprising cladding and insulation and testing its resistance to fire. Under building regulations it is the only official means to clear combustible materials for use on high rises.
The tests are carried out at accredited laboratories, including the Building Research Establishment (BRE), but the manufacturer’s reports are the only official statement on what the testing showed.
A Kingspan spokesperson said: “There was some loose and poorly expressed speculation as to whether the BRE had found inconsistencies between some documents (not Kingspan’s), but this was idle speculation, nothing more.”
A spokesperson for the BRE added: “If people are ‘doctoring’ reports, this is fraud and should be reported to Trading Standards. If we are also made aware, we will take steps to warn of their existence.”
A government spokesperson said anyone with evidence of doctoring should report it to the police.
The spokesperson added: “Nothing is more important than keeping people safe.”
It comes as the government reveals it is planning to redraft building regulations to include guidance on desktop studies - a means of clearing combinations of materials as safe without testing them, based on previous test data.
Never Again campaign
Inside Housing has launched a campaign to improve fire safety following the Grenfell Tower fire
Never Again: campaign asks
Inside Housing is calling for immediate action to implement the learning from the Lakanal House fire, and a commitment to act – without delay – on learning from the Grenfell Tower tragedy as it becomes available.
LANDLORDS
- Take immediate action to check cladding and external panels on tower blocks and take prompt, appropriate action to remedy any problems
- Update risk assessments using an appropriate, qualified expert.
- Commit to renewing assessments annually and after major repair or cladding work is carried out
- Review and update evacuation policies and ‘stay put’ advice in light of risk assessments, and communicate clearly to residents
GOVERNMENT
- Provide urgent advice on the installation and upkeep of external insulation
- Update and clarify building regulations immediately – with a commitment to update if additional learning emerges at a later date from the Grenfell inquiry
- Fund the retrofitting of sprinkler systems in all tower blocks across the UK (except where there are specific structural reasons not to do so)
We will submit evidence from our research to the Grenfell public inquiry.
The inquiry should look at why opportunities to implement learning that could have prevented the fire were missed, in order to ensure similar opportunities are acted on in the future.
