Residents fear new rules could mean dangerous cladding is left on blocks of flats
Summary
Residents of tower blocks with dangerous cladding fear that new government rules will allow some flammable cladding to remain, even if it poses a fire risk. After a recent fatal fire in a London building, some residents worry that the updated fire safety standards will not require full removal of unsafe cladding, putting their safety at risk.Key Facts
- Natasha Parcell, a resident evacuated after a fire in her east London tower block, is concerned new rules may let flammable cladding stay on buildings.
- The new rules, called PAS9980, rate cladding fire risk as high, medium, tolerable, or low. Only high and medium risk cladding must be removed.
- Nearly 3,000 UK tower blocks still have dangerous cladding needing repair, almost ten years after the Grenfell Tower fire.
- The developer of Parcell’s building, Barratt Redrow, says it still plans to remove all flammable cladding despite the rule change.
- Critics say the new system relies too much on fire safety assessors hired by builders or owners, which could affect impartial judgments.
- The government says the new approach will speed up cladding removal and ensure repairs are checked properly.
- Campaigners and insurers want all flammable cladding removed, not just pieces judged as high or medium risk.
- Some experts argue that fire safety problems beyond cladding should also be fixed, but the new rules do not require this.
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