Inquiry into building material after Dagenham fire incident
In the heart of East London, a fire broke out at a block of flats on Freshwater Road, causing concern and prompting investigations into the role of flammable cladding in high-rise building fires.
At 2.44am on Monday morning, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) was called to the scene, where they managed to evacuate more than 100 people from an eight-storey building. Two individuals were taken to the hospital due to the fire.
The block of flats was undergoing remedial work to replace non-compliant cladding on the fifth and sixth floors. Speculations have emerged about the role of cladding in the fire, as the incident occurred a week before the publication of the final report of the Grenfell Tower fire inquiry.
The Dagenham fire serves as a grim reminder of the tragedy that struck Grenfell Tower in 2017, where 72 lives were lost and the entire complex was destroyed. Like the Grenfell Tower fire, the Dagenham fire involved Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding, a material that has been linked to rapid fire spread.
Investigations into the Dagenham fire are ongoing, and the LFB has confirmed they will form part of the investigation into the cause of the fire. Patrick Goulbourne, LFB assistant commissioner, stated that the investigation will be complex and it's too early to give any detail on the fire's cause.
Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), has called for an urgent and swift investigation into the use of flammable cladding in residential buildings. He claimed that the tragedy in Dagenham has again exposed the issue of flammable cladding and deregulation in the building industry.
The FBU has warned of the risks of deregulation in the building sector for decades. They state that politicians have put the interests of big business above human life, as hundreds of thousands of people in the UK continue to live in buildings with various fire safety failings.
The recent fire at the New Providence Wharf block in East London, similar to the Grenfell Tower fire, involved ACM cladding. Despite government funding pledges totaling £8 million to aid remediation, the developer, Ballymore, has resisted covering the full cost of cladding removal and remediation works, which are estimated to cost around £12 million. As of mid-2021, remediation had not yet started, leaving residents concerned about ongoing risks and financial liability.
Recent legal interpretations of the Building Safety Act (BSA) clarify that leaseholders are protected from costs related to cladding removal and building safety measures, assigning financial responsibility to landlords and developers instead. However, disputes like that at New Providence Wharf illustrate ongoing challenges and delays in implementing safety measures.
Official investigations into material performance continue, with laminated glass fire behavior studied but not directly implicated in major fire spread at this location. Building regulations have since banned its use on balconies in relevant buildings to prevent possible fire spread via burning laminate dripping or flame extension upwards.
As the investigations into the Dagenham fire continue, the FBU reiterates the need for urgent action to ensure the safety of residents in high-rise buildings across the UK. The tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the importance of prioritizing fire safety and holding those responsible accountable.
- The incident at the block of flats on Freshwater Road in East London has prompted discussions about policy-and-legislation regarding health-and-wellness, specifically fire safety in high-rise buildings.
- Following the Dagenham fire, Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), has called for stricter regulations and oversight in the general-news area of the construction industry, given concerns about the use of flammable materials like Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding.
- The Dagenham fire, along with the Grenfell Tower fire, highlights the importance of addressing crime-and-justice issues in the building sector, particularly the misuse of potentially hazardous materials and deregulation, which may lead to accidents and loss of life.
