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PA Archive/PA Images

Report finds the cladding on Grenfell Tower was the main reason why the fire spread so quickly

The judge said he still found the rapid engulfment of the tower by flames ‘profoundly shocking’

THE GRENFELL TOWER cladding did not comply with building regulations and was the “principal” reason for the fire’s rapid and “profoundly shocking” spread, the inquiry report said.

Once the fire had taken hold of the building’s exterior, it was “inevitable” that it would find its way inside, Sir Martin Moore-Bick said.

The judge said he still found the rapid engulfment of the tower by flames “profoundly shocking” despite having viewed footage many times over.

He concluded that the “principal reason” the flames shot up the building at such speed was the combustible aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding with polyethylene cores which acted as a “source of fuel”.

The decorative crown then furthered its spread, he said.

inquiry-grenfell PA Graphics PA Graphics

Corporations involved with the refurbishment of the tower, in which the panels were added, previously urged the public inquiry not to make “premature” findings on the compliance of the building.

They also said the evidence heard in phase one was too provisional and insufficient for the judge to reach any firm conclusions for the spread of fire on the exterior of the building.

Arconic, which supplied the cladding on the outside of the block, said a “confluence of unfortunate circumstances” rather than the “mere presence” of the panels had caused the spread of the west London fire.

Stephen Hockman QC, representing the company, argued that any conclusion on compliance would “plainly” be premature.

But Sir Martin said he saw “no good reason for deferring to a later report what is no more than a self-evident conclusion”.

He said: “In circumstances where Arconic does not, and could not sensibly, dispute the rapidity and extent of the spread of fire over and around the building (and indeed in its closing statement put forward a number of mechanisms by which it says that could have occurred), I can see no rational basis for contending that the external walls of the building met requirement B4(1}, whatever the reason for that might have been.”

His findings are expected to be welcomed by survivors, who had called for Sir Martin to conclude that the high-rise was non-compliant with building regulations and that the 24-storey block failed its residents.

The judge continued: “If any of the core participants had put forward a reasoned argument to the effect that the exterior walls of the building complied with requirement B4(1}, the position might be different, but none has sought to do so.

I think it is right therefore that I should say at this stage that on completion of the main refurbishment the external walls of the building did not comply with requirement B4(1) of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations.

The judge said it seems likely that some aspects of the design of the cladding system and shape of the tower contributed to the speed at which the fire raced up the tower.

fire-grenfell PA Graphics PA Graphics

And he said he also thinks it “more likely than not” that the insulation behind the cladding contributed to the rate and extent of the fire spread.

However, this must be investigated further in phase 2 for him to reach a more definite conclusion.

He said: “I should like to be able to do so, because I think it would be in the public interest to obtain a better understanding of how these materials behave in conjunction with each other when exposed to fire.”

The third episode of Stardust, TheJournal.ie’s podcast about the 1981 fire which killed 48 people, is out now. Listen below or else wherever you get your podcasts. 
https://soundcloud.com/stardust-podcast/episode-3-and-then-everything-went-black/s-LfpVJ

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    Mute Eric Lensherr
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    Feb 13th 2015, 12:58 PM

    I’d be more concerned with the cocaine all the other houses are storing on their roofs.

    383
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    Mute Vic
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    Feb 13th 2015, 11:37 AM

    That’s a standard way to catch people in the Netherlands, you can buy fake snow to put on the roof! Rookie mistake lol

    201
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    Mute Kevin Higgins
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    Feb 13th 2015, 2:51 PM

    Or just use LEDs and keep the snow on your roof, better quality cannabis aswell imo

    29
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    Mute Paul McGuigan
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    Feb 13th 2015, 7:59 PM

    Or a roofie mistake

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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Feb 13th 2015, 8:42 PM

    So you wait for it to snow, and start sticking, even in the dead of night, and then you clamber up onto the roof with your pre-prepared several sacks of fake snow and proceed to cover your roof with the stuff. While it’s snowing.

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    Mute Ewan Scott-Douglas
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    Feb 13th 2015, 11:38 AM

    Next time get some better insulation.

    89
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    Mute dearg doom
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    Feb 13th 2015, 11:46 AM

    You can’t always predict the snow, and you can’t just go up there and put fake snow on the roof in case it snows overnight. That would look even more conspicuous.

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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Feb 13th 2015, 8:45 PM

    Exactly dude, should have read all comments before i posted.

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    Mute Joe Bloggs
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    Feb 13th 2015, 11:35 AM

    Idiots!

    86
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    Mute Brendan Cooney
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    Feb 13th 2015, 11:53 AM

    Probably smoking too much of their own produce!

    70
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    Mute Robbie O'Flynn
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    Feb 13th 2015, 12:11 PM

    These guys werent obeying to the old saying…..
    “Dont get high on your own supply!”

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    Mute twonky kong
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    Feb 13th 2015, 1:20 PM

    Dopes !

    13
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    Mute Kevin Higgins
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    Feb 13th 2015, 2:51 PM

    (PUN)

    13
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    Mute Hoof Hearted
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    Feb 13th 2015, 6:04 PM

    Doh !

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    Mute jason bourne
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    Feb 13th 2015, 11:47 AM

    Just paint your roof white

    83
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    Mute Alanearls
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    Feb 13th 2015, 6:21 PM

    Then when the snow melts the cops just drive around looking for houses with white roofs ;-)

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    Mute Neil Corcoran
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    Feb 13th 2015, 12:14 PM

    That story is 2 weeks old, slow news day?

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    Mute Pauliebhoy
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    Feb 13th 2015, 12:32 PM

    Snow news day?

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    Mute Neil Corcoran
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    Feb 13th 2015, 2:15 PM

    Badum tish!

    16
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    Mute The Dabbler
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    Feb 13th 2015, 12:24 PM

    6×6 grow tent worked for me. Minimal heat escaping.

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    Mute Hank Schrader
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    Feb 13th 2015, 12:04 PM

    The big electricity usage is usually a good give away too, unless… You just bypass the meter.

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    Mute Kevin Higgins
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    Feb 13th 2015, 2:53 PM

    For commercial maybe but for personal use its using no more power than your front garden spotlights.

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    Mute Dsl
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    Feb 13th 2015, 11:55 AM

    Just stop growing that Shyte

    31
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    Mute Kevin Higgins
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    Feb 13th 2015, 2:54 PM

    Can only think of 2 reasons why it may be “Shyte” 1) Useless Grower 2) Additives to add weight

    No cannabis consumer wants either of the two, they want good quality locally sourced organic cannabis

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    Mute Critical Thoughts
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    Feb 13th 2015, 3:28 PM

    And I thought music snobs were annoying.

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    Mute Dsl
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    Feb 13th 2015, 7:15 PM

    Under heat lamps and grow with chemicals is organic ! Then Possibly believe e. cigarettes are healthy too ! Ignorant !

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    Mute Tom Red
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    Feb 13th 2015, 11:39 AM

    Thick as bottled shit…

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    Mute Shay Bourke
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    Feb 13th 2015, 12:34 PM

    This happen down in Tipperary a few years ago around the time of the big freeze. They were growing cannabis but their roof was the only one that had no snow.

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    Mute dabuyincojen
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    Feb 13th 2015, 3:02 PM

    Good way to weed them out! Drugs are for mugs.

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    Mute Wastrel
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    Feb 13th 2015, 8:27 PM

    thanks, dad.

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    Mute dabuyincojen
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    Feb 13th 2015, 3:01 PM

    Dopes!

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    Mute John Ward
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    Feb 13th 2015, 2:35 PM

    Snow use complaining!
    Snow use is bad for you!

    3
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