Cladding

Beggars belief: of the 600 in question, only 34 samples tested so far.

100% failure rate! (10-00 News ,just)

What the HELL is wrong with this country?

And who got the brown paper bags full of cash ?

can anyone remember this happening in wigan near the waterwheel a couple of years ago ? .

Would be interesting to see some footage of these test just to see how flammable they actually are.

Now 60 samples tested.

Still 100% failure rate!

The inquiry into this is going to be very interesting. The manufacturer says the panels used are to BSS specification on fire resistance yet they are failing the test now being carried out by the BRE.
Is it the same test or something more stringent or are they really in spec time alone will tell.

Six o'clock news reported that B.R.E. are conducting the tests under conditions of secrecy, which I gather is unusual.

Last night it was up to 75 (all failed). Not looked today.
You have to be careful though apportioning blame - the panels themselves are aluminium top and bottom with summat sandwiched between the 2.
The manufacturer of the panels only do the aluminium facings. Then another manufacturer puts in the filling of the dì'ìsandwich. -these 'base panels' can be specified normal (PE) or fire resistant (FR). That's where the selection/design process comes in. The manufacturer of the sandwich aluminium facings provides guidelines and recommendations for the design. THEN ..... insulation can be added to the inside of those sandwich panels. Which brings another 'culpable' cpmpany into play. So potentially aìwe have let's dìsay 5 entities with responsability, which varies:
- the manufacturer of the external aluminium sheets
- the manufacturer of the sandwich (including the flling)
- the supplier of any thermal/noise insulation stuck to the inside
- the overall designer of the whole caboodle
- the housing association who run the block
- the council who are supposed to oversee and give the thumbs up

... that's at least 6 in fact.
As you can see it will get very messy when each is fighting his corner.

And, apparently, regulations which are so convoluted that you can choose whether you want to view the panels as banned or permitted, and consequently interpret the regulations to be consistent with whichever case it be that you are choosing to make!

Tomplum has posted a short video of a 1984 documentary on the Wigan Rejects site. It clearly states the fire risks on tall buildings from using the type of cladding currently classed as unsafe.

1984 documentry about cladding.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upViHb8z4wY