Grenfall Tower Fire

[Lee909]

Stupid adverts here

But same system i saw. You'd think something like this would be a good idea to make a necessity in high rises.

 

I'd have one fitted if i lived in one

 

https://youtu.be/2qrXmk7eCCY

 

https://youtu.be/2qrXmk7eCCY

[Guest Pistonbroke]

 

A Sky News reporter has been slammed for telling a boy who escaped a burning tower block the 'plus side' was he would miss school.

Mark White was branded an "idiot" by social media users after he interviewed the boy with his grandmother after they fled the flames.

 

After asking him how he got out of the burning tower block, he told the boy: "So no school for you today then... it has a plus side I guess."

 

 

Shakes head*

[Kloppite]

Whoever passed it safe needs to be in the docks with the councillors.

The responsibility isn't actually down to councilors it is on the landlord and the flats were managed by someone else.

 

The firebrigade need to test risers in the building and if they haven't checked them then it's on them.

[Lee909]

I've seen pretty insensitive reporting of witnesses on both the BBC and Sky this morning. Sky appear to be pretty keen to get the number of fatalities.

Yeah

Only seen the BBC and the questions and just letting people on spouting shite is bollocks.

 

Every time you see a news teport from either its got a hotline number so you can talk to them and report.

 

How about getting actual reporters to do it

[TheBitch]

Stupid adverts here

But same system i saw. You'd think something like this would be a good idea to make a necessity in high rises.

 

I'd have one fitted if i lived in one

 

 

 

That's superb. I'd have one of them just in case the lift was broke.

[Lee909]

The towers are run by Kensington and Chelsea TMO on behalf of the local council

 

 

Take it with a pinch of salt as its off Wiki but some looks true.

 

 

 

Construction of the 23 storey Grenfell Tower commenced in 1972 and it was completed in 1974 as part of Stage 1 of the Lancaster Road West redevelopment project.[9] It was built under the council housing system though many of its later residents were private high value individuals including ex Olympians.[10] It contained 120 flats and was renovated in 2015-16.[2][11] The tower is managed byKensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO), the largest tenant management organisation in England, on behalf of Kensington and Chelsea London Borough Council.

 

Plans for a "regeneration project" for the tower were publicised in 2012.[12] The £10m refurbishment, undertaken by Rydon Ltd., was completed in 2016.[13] As part of the project, in 2015–2016, the concrete structure received new windows and new aluminium compositecladding with thermal insulation.[1] The work was carried out by Harley Facades, at a cost of £2.6m.[14]

 

Safety concerns

 

There were significant safety concerns prior to the fire, with criticism levelled against the Kensington and Chelsea London Borough Council for fire safety and building maintenance. A residents' organisation, Grenfell Action Group, published a blog in which it highlighted major safety problems. In 2013, the group published a 2012 fire risk assessment done by a TMO Health and Safety Officer that revealed significant safety violations. Firefighting equipment at the tower had not been checked for up to four years; fire extinguishers on site were expired, and some had "condemned" written on them in large black letters because they were so old. The Grenfell Action Group documented its attempts to contact KCTMO management; they also alerted Timothy Coleridge, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) Cabinet Member for Housing and Property, but never received a reply from him or his deputy, Laura Johnson.[7][15]

 

In a July 2014 Grenfell Tower regeneration newsletter, the KCTMO instructed residents to stay in the flat in case of a fire:[16]

 

Emergency fire arrangements

Our longstanding 'stay put' policy stays in force until you are told otherwise. This means that (unless there is a fire in your flat or in the hallway outside your flat) you should stay inside your flat. This is because Grenfell was designed according to rigorous fire safety standards. Also, the new front doors for each flat can withstand a fire for up to 30 minutes, which gives plenty of time for the fire brigade to arrive.

 

In November 2016, a residents' organisation, Grenfell Action Group, published online an article attacking KCTMO as an "evil, unprincipled, mini-mafia" and accusing the Borough Council of ignoring health and safety laws. The Group suggested that "only a catastrophic event will expose the ineptitude and incompetence of [KCTMO]". The group had also published articles criticising fire safety and maintenance practices at Grenfell Tower.[17][18]

 

On eight occasions between 2013 and 2016 the Grenfell Action Group had written about their concerns related to fire safety, electrical safety, and severe ongoing power surges.[19]

 

Past incidents noted by the Grenfell Action Group included a fire in the Adair block in October 2015, at which they stated theLondon Fire Brigade concluded the management company had not safeguarded residents properly and had issued an Enforcement Order to improve fire safety in the escape staircases and fire doors. A further Fire Brigade audit of the nearby Hazelwood block, also managed by the same company (which had previously suffered a fire with a fatality), also identified fire-related issues and resulted in a further Enforcement Order. The Action Group stated that in the Hazelwood fire, one factor was that stairwell air grilles allowed fire and smoke to spread rapidly and should be closed off; this had not been done by the management company and was believed to be a factor in the subsequent Adair fire.[19] They also noted the inadequate instructions given to residents on action to take in the event of fire, and repeated electrical safety issues, and warned that "it won't be long before the words of this blog come back to haunt the KCTMO management".[19]

 

In January 2016, the Grenfell Action Group warned of the possibility that people would be trapped in the building if a fire broke out, citing the fact that the building had only one entrance and exit, and corridors that were allowed to be filled with rubbish, such as old mattresses. The Group frequently cited other fires in tower blocks when it warned of the hazards at Grenfell.[20]

 

Immediately following the fire, it was being debated whether the cladding had somehow contributed to the disaster.[1]

[Lee909]

That's superb. I'd have one of them just in case the lift was broke.

How many people would be using them to watch the woman on the floor below

[Kloppite]

Someone on the BBC saying there was a gap on the corners between the original concrete and the cladding and it acted like a chimney and the building went up like a bonfire.

[Lee909]

Shit shouldn't be happening in this day and age. Yet i see more and more of the cunting things getting built every month.

[Anubis]

The Mirror are suggesting that successive housing ministers over the last four years, have been sitting on a coroner's report urging government reform around health and safety and fire concerns relating to high-rise flats.

[Anubis]

That's superb. I'd have one of them just in case the lift was broke.

 

The largest covers a maximum 260ft drop and costs approx $1500. 

 

The weight limit for all of them is 19st - so it looks like I'd be in the shit unless I go on a diet.

[Guest Pistonbroke]

Shit shouldn't be happening in this day and age. Yet i see more and more of the cunting things getting built every month.

 

Money is more important than life for many. Just have to hope that those responsible are brought to justice. 

[Lee909]

Even at that price in the cost of putting up flats its peanuts really. Im sure if they were making enough you could knock that down a bit.

[Guest Pistonbroke]

The Mirror are suggesting that successive housing ministers over the last four years, have been sitting on a coroner's report urging government reform around health and safety and fire concerns relating to high-rise flats.

 

The latest housing minister was that Barwell who was voted out. I believe there has been about 14 new ministers since the turn of the millennium!! 

[Anubis]

Even at that price in the cost of putting up flats its peanuts really. Im sure if they were making enough you could knock that down a bit.

 

You'd think so, wouldn't you? But we live in a world where people have been encouraged to become landlords through buy to let, and seem only interested in meeting their minimum responsibilities (and in some cases less than that) in order to maximise their return.

[Lee909]

Thats why the things need to be put in place to enforce them

Problem is most of the MP will be either letting houses or habe mates that are and dont want the expense themselves

 

 

 

Jeremy Corbyn tried to pass through a law that would required private landlords to make their homes safe and “fit for human habitation” last year – but it was rejected by the Conservatives.

 

Labour proposed an amendment to the Government’s new Housing and Planning Bill – a raft of new laws aimed at reforming housing law – in January last year, but it was rejected by 312 votes to 219.

 

According to Parliament’s register of interests, 72 of the MPs who voted against the amendment were themselves landlords who derive an income from a property.

[Jairzinho]

I've seen pretty insensitive interviewing of witnesses on both the BBC and Sky this morning. Many of those poor people have clearly experienced a terrible event. Sky appear to be pretty keen to get the number of fatalities.

I found some of the Guardian's coverage online pretty hideous.

 

"Here's what you need to know..." Type language. It was a fire, where people died. Not a fucking festival preview.

[Guest Pistonbroke]

Thats why the things need to be put in place to enforce them

Problem is most of the MP will be either letting houses or habe mates that are and dont want the expense themselves

 

If only a Tory minister had shares in the company that made them..............

[Chip Butty]

I thought that was the protocol for all high rise flats tbf. In normal circumstances I think it is sound advice incase of fumes but the nature of this fire it was a bad thing.

Thats true in blocks of flats that have a compartmentalisation design that contains fires, this building, whether by the design or by the addition of this cladding, doesn't hold that characteristic. 

 

The recriminations are starting to flow and all those involved in the refurb, the escape strategy design and building certification will be going through all their paperwork right about now I reckon. 

[Kloppite]

Thats true in blocks of flat that have a compartmentalisation design that contains fires, this building, whether by the design or by the addition of this cladding, doesn't hold that characteristic.

 

The recriminations are starting to flow and all those involved in the refurb, the escape strategy design and building certification will be going through all their paperwork right about now I reckon.

The fire spread from the outside. As people in the flats have said smoke was in the fire exit which is why you should only be evacuated be the firebrigade.

 

There was a fire in these flats a few months ago which didn't spread this fire spread because the cladding around the corner was at right angles but the original concrete was curved. This meant there was a gap which acted like a chimney. This is what an eye witness said he said there fire went up the side of the building like a bonfire going up.

[Captain Turdseye]

Fucking this shit on faceaids

 

I live 18 fucking miles away

I'm glad to hear you're OK mate.

[Captain Turdseye]

The largest covers a maximum 260ft drop and costs approx $1500.

 

The weight limit for all of them is 19st - so it looks like I'd be in the shit unless I go on a diet.

Sounds to me like you could cushion your fall naturally!

[Chip Butty]

The fire spread from the outside. As people in the flats have said smoke was in the fire exit which is why you should only be evacuated be the firebrigade.

 

There was a fire in these flats a few months ago which didn't spread this fire spread because the cladding around the corner was at right angles but the original concrete was curved. This meant there was a gap which acted like a chimney. This is what an eye witness said he said there fire went up the side of the building like a bonfire going up.

The refurb designers and material aquisitioners and those who certied the work will be the ones then checking their paperwork. If the cladding isn't fire retardant rated, then questions will surely be asked. 

Guy talking on the beeb now stating recently there was a fire in a block of flats near by and it was contained within the flat, so the cladding, its design and fire retardant properties will come under some extreme scrutiny.

[1892-LFCWasBorn]

Theresa May's chief of staff 'sat on' report warning high-rise blocks like Grenfell Tower were vulnerable to fire

 

A coroner's report into a previous fire recommended a review of building regulations four years ago. Successive ministers said they were "still looking at it."

 

Theresa May’s new chief of staff was one of a series of housing ministers who “sat on” a report warning high-rise blocks like Grenfell Tower were vulnerable to fire for four years.

 

A former Chief Fire Officer and secretary of a parliamentary group on fire safety today revealed successive ministers had had damning evidence on their desks since 2013 and nothing had happened.

 

And the Labour MP who chairs the group said ministers had “sat on” the recommendations for almost four years.

 

Gavin Barwell, who was housing minister until losing his seat in last week’s election, promised to review part B of the Building Regulations 2010, which relate to fire safety, but the review never materialised

 

A coroner’s investigation into the blaze at Lakanal House in South London in 2009, which claimed six lives, found panels on the exterior of the block had not provided the required fire resistance and insufficient fire risk assessments had been made.

 

The coroner made a series of recommendation following the tragedy, but while some have been taken up, a full review of building regulations has yet to take place.

 

The Mirror approached Number 10 and the Department for Communities and Local Government for comment.

 

Ronnie King, honorary administrative secretary of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Fire Safety and Rescue and a former Chief Fire Officer, told LBC Radio this morning they had “strongly recommended” installing fire suppression systems and sprinklers in 4,000 similar tower blocks across the country.

 

He said: “We were strongly recommending this because the fire at Lakanal House spread within four minutes and came into the flat above and then went on to kill six people, regrettably.”

 

Mr King said it was likely similar failings existed in West London’s Grenfell House, which erupted in flames in the early hours of this morning.

 

He said: “I wouldn’t have expected fire to spread like that if there had been automatic fire sprinklers installed.”

 

London Labour MP Jim Fitzpatrick, who was a firefighter for more than 20 years, said this morning the government had resisted calls to install sprinkler systems in tower blocks.

 

Mr Fitzpatrick, who chairs the All-Party Group, said the Lakanal House fire should have been a “wake-up call”.

 

He said: “Four years later, we’re still trying to get the government to undertake that review.”

 

He said successive ministers had said they were “looking at it”, adding the delay had been worsened by responsibility for building regulations being split between three ministers.

 

He added: “You’d have to ask them why they’ve sat on it for four years.”

 

Mr King said: “It’s nearly 11 years since it was reviewed, and successive ministers since 2013 have actually said ‘we’re still looking at it.’”

 

He said said Mr Barwell said he was “still looking whether or not to undertake a review” as recently as this year.

 

“He was still looking at it,” he said. “And he was prepared to meet the All-Party Group” to discuss it further. And that’s when the election was called, and we never had the meeting.”

 

Mr Barwell had been housing minister for a year when the election was called.

 

And he said James Wharton, who was previously the minister responsible for building regulations, had also met with the group.

 

“So we’ve been waiting since 2013 actually, since this was requested to be done.”

 

He added: “When you’ve got this sort of evidence, you really should be reviewing it.”

 

Lib Dem Stephen Williams, then a junior DCLG minister, promised in March 2015 that the building regulations would be reviewed in the 2016-17 parliament.

 

During a debate on Fire Safety, he told MPs: "Following the Lakanal house fire, to which my hon. Friend referred, the coroner called on the Government to simplify the guidance in approved document B of the building regulations.

 

"My Department’s Secretary of State committed to a review, which will deliver a revised document in 2016-17; the intention is to simplify the guidance where possible and update and revise the technical content at the same time.

 

And he specifically responded to calls for sprinklers to be installed in vulnerable blocks.

 

He said: "They are recognised as a highly effective fire protection measure. It is too early to say how they will fit into the revised approved document, but he should rest assured that the potential benefits will not be ignored."

 

In October last year, Mr Barwell told MPs the government had "publicly committed" to reviewing part B of the fire regulations following the Lakanal House fire.

 

He said: "We have not set out any formal plans to review the building regulations as a whole, but we have publicly committed ourselves to reviewing part B following the Lakanal House fire."

 

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/theresa-mays-chief-staff-sat-10620357

 

Appalliing stuff this. Any cunt involved should be charged with manslaughter in my book.

[Anubis]

Sounds to me like you could cushion your fall naturally!