• UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
NewsExplored
  • UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • LinkedIn

  • Tumblr

  • RSS

UK

Grenfell Tower inquiry: Main firm ‘ignored’ an email raising cladding fears

Grenfell Tower inquiry: Main firm ‘ignored’ an email raising cladding fears
Newsexplored
21st July 2020
6
SHARES
ShareTweet
SubscribeRedditGoogleWhatsappStumbleuponPinterestDiggLinkedinTumblrTelegram
Views:
5
Grenfell Tower memorialImage copyright Kirsty O’Connor

A manager at the main contractor for Grenfell Tower’s refurbishment ignored email concerns that the cladding could be combustible, the inquiry has heard.

Rydon’s Simon Lawrence received an email from the Tenant Management Organisation (TMO) which ran the tower seeking clarity on whether the new cladding would resist a fire.

There is no evidence that he or anyone from Rydon replied to that email.

The inquiry’s first phase found that cladding fuelled the June 2017 fire.

Hearings in the second phase of the inquiry returned last week after a four-month break due to coronavirus.

This second phase is examining the refurbishment of the 24-storey residential block in North Kensington, west London, in which 72 people died.

The inquiry heard on Tuesday that Mr Lawrence, a contracts manager at Rydon, received an email from Claire Williams from the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO) responsible for the running of the tower, on 12 November 2014, seeking clarification on whether the new cladding would resist a fire.

She told Mr Lawrence, who was involved in the project between June 2014 and October 2015, that she was having a ‘Lakanal moment’ – referring to the 2009 fire in a high-rise residential block in London with cladding, which killed six people.

There is no evidence that Mr Lawrence or anyone else from Rydon responded to the email.

Image copyright Grenfell Tower Inquiry
Image caption Simon Lawrence of Rydon

Inquiry lawyer Richard Millett QC asked him what he thought Ms Williams meant by a ‘Lakanal moment’.

Mr Lawrence said he knew there had been a fire at Lakanal some years ago, but did not know “the specific details” or that it was relating to fire in the context of the fire retardance of the new cladding.

data-ad-format="auto">

He added that he believed Ms Williams’ concerns related “specifically” to the fire retardance of the cladding on the lower floors of the residential block, “but not cladding overall”.

  • Listen to the Grenfell Inquiry Podcast

David Gibson, another member of the TMO, said in a witness statement that he asked Mr Lawrence if there would be a ‘Lakanal type problem’, due to the danger of flames getting trapped in the gap between the external insulation and rainscreen cladding on the outside of the building.

Mr Lawrence said he did not recall Mr Gibson raising this matter with him in a meeting, when asked by Mr Millett.

Mr Gibson said Mr Lawrence assured him that the materials being used were ‘inert’ and would not burn – which Mr Lawrence denies saying.


Asked again by Mr Millet if ever he assured Mr Gibson that the materials being used were “inert”, Mr Lawrence said he would “not give technical assurances” unless he had that information from “designers or specialists”.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Share on Skype (Opens in new window)

Related

Related Itemscladdingemailgrenfellignoredinquiryraisingtower
UK
21st July 2020
Newsexplored @newsexploredweb

Related Itemscladdingemailgrenfellignoredinquiryraisingtower

More in UK

  • Read More
    The Papers: Front pages mark UK’s 100,000 Covid deaths

    Views:5 By BBC NewsStaff image captionThe solemn face of Boris Johnson dominates many of the front pages,...

    Newsexplored 21st July 2020
  • Read More
    The Papers: Quarantine hotels plan and holidays ‘under threat’

    Views:5 By BBC NewsStaff image captionSeveral of the front pages look ahead to potential new travel restrictions,...

    Newsexplored 21st July 2020
  • Read More
    Extra £50m pledged for virus-hit grassroots sport

    Views:5 Grassroots clubs have stated that many could go out of business due to the pandemic An...

    Newsexplored 21st July 2020
  • Read More
    Hercule Van Wolfwinkle: Worthing pet artist raises £50k for homeless

    Views:5 image copyrightHERCULE VAN WOLFWINKLE image captionA fake pet profile for this dog says: “Timothy likes skidding...

    Newsexplored 21st July 2020
  • Read More
    Frank Lampard: Chelsea sack manager with Thomas Tuchel expected to replace him

    Views:5 Frank Lampard won 28 of his 57 Premier League games in charge of Chelsea Chelsea have...

    Newsexplored 21st July 2020
  • Read More
    Scotland’s papers: New Covid strain in Scotland and ‘save Union’ plan

    Views:5 image captionThe Herald says Scotland has identified at least three cases of the South African coronavirus...

    Newsexplored 21st July 2020
  • Read More
    The Papers: Schools out ’till Easter’ for ‘lost generation’ kids

    Views:5 By BBC NewsStaff image captionIt’s looking more likely that parents in England “will have many more...

    Newsexplored 21st July 2020
  • Read More
    Snow in the UK: Wintry weather in pictures

    Views:5 image copyrightPA Wire image captionPeople tumbled into action to make the most of the rare snowfall...

    Newsexplored 21st July 2020
  • Read More
    Covid: Four vaccine centres shut amid snow alert for Wales

    Views:5 Published 17 minutes ago Related Topics image copyrightTraffic Wales image captionSnow on the M4 Junction 24...

    Newsexplored 21st July 2020
  • Read More
    The Papers: Vaccinated told to follow rules and PM’s jab ‘gamble’

    Views:5 By BBC NewsStaff image captionThose who have had the Covid-19 vaccine must stick to lockdown rules...

    Newsexplored 21st July 2020
  • Read More
    Cheltenham Town 1-3 Man City: Six-time winners avoid FA Cup shock

    Views:5 Cheltenham Town came within nine minutes of one of the biggest shocks in recent FA Cup...

    Newsexplored 21st July 2020
  • Read More
    Covid vaccine: Can Wales meet its targets?

    Views:5 By Steve Duffy & Gwyndaf HughesBBC news It is hoped 70% of the over-80s in Wales...

    Newsexplored 21st July 2020
Scroll for more
Tap
data-ad-format="auto">
NewsExplored

NewsExplored - Making sure all the latest news is explored?

Contact us for help

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • Comments

  • Australian Open: Heather Watson among 47 players to quarantine in Melbourne after Covid cases on flights
    Sports16th January 2021
  • The Papers: ‘Fortress Britain’ and ‘modern miracle workers’
    UK15th January 2021
  • Fashion lookahead: Eight major 2021 looks from tie-dye to pastels
    Entertainment30th December 2020
  • Fifa 21 and Frozen 2 top digital sales of 2020
    Tech8th January 2021
  • Joe Biden: The team he hopes can fix the US economy
    USA27th January 2021
  • Biden kicks off inclusive LGBT agenda
    USA26th January 2021
  • White House pets: Cats, dogs and raccoons through the years
    USA26th January 2021
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-26 Green Bay Packers; Buffalo Bills 24-38 Kansas City Chiefs
    USA25th January 2021
  • Les Rehrer says:

    Hello Its me :P and thanks for this post

  • optumrx login says:

    Thank For News.

  • Kent Laatsch says:

    Please let me know if you're looking for a writer…

  • Bob says:

    RT News was where I learned that Erdogan controlled isis.…

Copyright © 2018 Top News Theme. Theme by MVP Themes, powered by Wordpress.

Thorpe Park: Man charged with theme park stabbing
Prince George photos mark seventh birthday
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok