Senior civil servant failed to update safety guidance despite ‘major fire’ warning

By Tom Lowe2022-02-09T11:07:00

Grenfell Tower toward the end of its ill-fated refurbishment

Source: Grenfell Tower Inquiry

‘Confusing’ building regulations not clarified after blaze issues raised in 2014 meeting

A senior civil servant failed to clarify confusing building regulations in the years before Grenfell despite telling a group of cladding experts “there is going to be a major fire”, the inquiry has heard.

Brian Martin is alleged to have made the comments at a July 2014 meeting with the Centre for Window and Cladding Technology (CWCT), an industry body which provides guidance on facades, to discuss concerns over an ambiguous passage in the government’s official fire safety guidance.

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