PM calls for major national cladding investigation

Theresa May has called for a separate major national investigation into cladding failures after results showed 95 buildings have now failed fire safety tests.

During the cabinet meeting on Tuesday, The Prime Minister told ministers: “There will need to be a major national investigation into what’s gone wrong, when cladding that’s failing the tests has been fitted on buildings in this country over a number of decades.”

The probe could be a second phase of the public inquiry into the west London fire.

Today the Government revealed  the total number of towers fitted with unsafe cladding had risen to 95 towers in 32 local authority areas in England. So far all of the samples submitted have failed fire safety tests.

The Government is now moving the scope of testing to schools, hospitals and other public buildings which may be at risk.

Today an expert panel was set up to look at any immediate action that is required so the public can be confident everything possible is being done to make all public and private buildings safe as quickly as possible.

The Panel will be made up of a range of building and fire safety experts, and will be chaired by Sir Ken Knight, former London Fire Commissioner and former Government Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser.

Government expert panel

Sir Ken Knight, former London Fire Commissioner (chair); Dr Peter Bonfield, Chief Executive of the Building Research Establishment, Roy Wilsher, Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council; Amanda Clack, EY partner and President of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

The panel have a wealth of experience in fire and building safety, including testing processes. They will also draw in wider technical expertise as necessary to inform their advice to the Communities Secretary.

It is intended that a first meeting of the Panel will take place this week.

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/06/27/pm-calls-for-major-national-cladding-investigation/

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