Responding to the Government’s consultation on strengthening fire
testing for cladding systems on residential buildings, Local
Government Association Chairman, , said:
“The LGA explained to the Government several months ago that
Approved Document B needed revising in order to provide clarity
for building owners seeking to replace flammable cladding, so we
are pleased to see this consultation emerge.
“Currently, if no fire test data exists for a particular cladding
system, a desktop study can be submitted. We have consistently
said that desktop studies cannot substitute for real-world tests
of cladding systems – including in our evidence to the Hackitt
Review. We urge the Government to hold firm against industry
pressure that seeks to allow their continued use.
“What happened at Grenfell Tower can never be allowed to happen
again and no one should have to live in fear about their safety,
be that in the buildings they live in, work in or visit.
“Councils have acted quickly to put in safety measures in their
high-rise blocks to reassure residents. With a large number of
high-rise buildings affected by fire safety test fails owned by
private landlords, councils continue to work hard to support
building owners in their area to deal with the issue and to try
and confirm with the owners of thousands of private high-rise
residential buildings to identify the cladding and insulation
systems on those blocks.
“While councils will continue to get on with what they need to do
and are ready to play a leading role in making sure a new system
of building regulation works, significant funding concerns
remain. The Government needs to meet the unexpected exceptional
costs for councils arising from conducting fire safety and major
remedial work and for any essential fire and safety measures
needed.”
