Seven years after the hearth in Grenfell Tower took 72 lives, the ultimate report into the causes of the tragedy has been revealed. The inquiry’s findings place damning blame on corporations, the federal government, our bodies answerable for constructing regulation and emergency companies. It concludes the victims had been “badly failed” by these answerable for their security, and that every one the deaths had been avoidable.
The primary section of the report revealed in 2019, investigated the reason for the hearth, the way it developed and the function performed by the London Hearth Brigade and different emergency companies. The ultimate report had a a lot wider remit and targeted on the design, building and administration of the constructing. This included the function of the federal government in relation to fireside security and the Grenfell hearth.
I’ve drawn on my experience within the administration of emergency companies to summarise the report’s key findings and proposals.
‘Systematic dishonesty’ by corporations
The report highlighted the “systematic dishonesty” of these concerned in testing and advertising the cladding panels and insulation current in Grenfell Tower. The inquiry accused corporations of manipulating testing processes, misrepresenting information and deceptive the market, to make the merchandise appear safer than they had been recognized to be.
It significantly named Arconic Architectural Merchandise (who manufactured and bought the rainscreen panels utilized in Grenfell’s exterior wall), Celotex (who manufactured the froth insulation) and Kingspan (who manufactured insulation panels), amongst others. The prime minister, Keir Starmer, has mentioned that these corporations will likely be barred from profitable future authorities contracts.
The corporations named have responded to the report. Arconic mentioned it didn’t conceal any details about its merchandise or mislead, and “[rejects] any declare that AAP bought an unsafe product”. Celotex mentioned it has modified some processes in advertising and high quality administration since 2017, and continues to cooperate with the inquiry and related investigations. Kingspan acknowledged “wholly unacceptable historic failings that occurred in a part of our UK insulation enterprise”, however famous that “whereas deeply regrettable, they weren’t discovered to be causative of the tragedy”.
The report criticised different organisations concerned in testing, such because the Constructing Analysis Institution (BRE), which held a trusted place throughout the building trade and was recognised as a pacesetter in hearth security.
The inquiry discovered critical flaws in how BRE examined and reported on the protection of merchandise. For instance, the report says the agency suggested prospects like Celotex and Kingspan on how you can meet security standards relatively than remaining unbiased.
The report famous: “In some instances we noticed proof of a want to accommodate current prospects and to retain [BRE’s] standing throughout the trade on the expense of sustaining the rigour of its processes and issues of public security.”
BRE mentioned it is going to “be reviewing the report and its suggestions and can proceed to work constructively with authorities to make sure the brand new constructing security and testing regime delivers on the findings of the Inquiry’s report and is match for function”.
These damning findings expose what some have described as a longstanding “tradition of contempt” for folks and due course of on the a part of these answerable for Grenfell. Starmer mentioned that Grenfell raises “elementary questions concerning the sort of nation we’re”.
The function of presidency
The report concluded that the hearth at Grenfell was the “end result of many years of failure by central authorities” and others within the building trade. Most notably, the federal government’s repeated failure to answer the data obtainable concerning the hazard of flamable supplies.
It additionally blames the Conservative-Lib Dem authorities’s “deregulatory agenda”, which it says led to “issues affecting the protection of life [being] ignored, delayed or disregarded”.
The report can also be crucial of the council landlord (the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea) and the tenant administration organisation in relation to their method towards security and refurbishments at Grenfell Tower. The function of native councils and resident organisations in sustaining the protection of buildings and residents wants to alter, to ensure hearth security considerations are responded to and acted on rapidly.
A latest hearth in Dagenham, one other excessive rise constructing in London, means that the teachings of cladding dangers from Grenfell have nonetheless not been totally realized. And 1000’s of buildings all through the nation are nonetheless fitted with unsafe cladding.
The brand new authorities’s resolve and dedication will likely be examined to each totally suggest the report’s findings, and to alter the lackadaisical attitudes in direction of hearth security laws in a decent fiscal local weather. Starmer has instructed parliament that “this have to be a second of change”.
Enhancing hearth security
The primary report criticised the London Hearth Brigade for failing to establish coaching wants, significantly in responding to fires in high-rise buildings. The ultimate report blames a “persistent lack” of management within the LFB, and recommends establishing an unbiased Faculty of Hearth and Rescue.
London Hearth commissioner Andy Roe mentioned the brigade had applied the suggestions from the primary section of the report, together with improved coaching and tools, and would proceed to take action.
Whereas no timescale has been set, it will be completed in session with the Nationwide Hearth Chiefs Council and will likely be evidenced-based to cowl all elements of coaching, training and analysis. This must be welcomed by the sector, which has suffered for a scarcity of unbiased skilled physique just like the Faculty of Policing and the Faculty of Paramedics.
Prosecutions and justice
Households and survivors of the Grenfell hearth have expressed frustration with a “carousel of blame-pointing” by those that gave proof to the inquiry.
The ultimate report ought to present some solace on this regard, firmly laying out the accountability and complicity of nationwide and native authorities our bodies, the development trade, regulators and first responders.
However bringing any legal prosecutions will likely be a protracted course of. The Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecutions Service say they have to rigorously examine the report findings “line by line” earlier than bringing potential fees on the finish of 2026. These might embrace company manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter, fraud, perverting the course of justice and misconduct in public workplace.
This isn’t going to be straightforward however will ship a powerful message and assist discover “seeds of hope” for the grieving households of the Grenfell tragedy.
The report’s findings – and future motion to implement its suggestions – are a stark publicity of malpractice, and can hopefully assist untangle the nexus between producers and regulatory our bodies within the curiosity of fireplace security and stopping future tragedies.
