Tower blocks undergo urgent tests in wake of Grenfell tragedy
Tower blocks in the Black Country and Staffordshire have undergone urgent tests to see if they feature flammable cladding in wake of Grenfell Tower disaster.
Local authorities have moved to check high rise buildings across the region to see whether they have the type of exterior cladding similar to that used on the west London tower, where at least 79 people died.
Flammable panelling on the outside of Grenfell Tower is suspected to have aided the rapid spread of last week’s blaze.
It comes after Theresa May announced that checks were taking place on hundreds of buildings across the country to see if they contain combustible cladding.
The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) said 600 tower blocks in the UK feature some form of cladding.
A spokesman said that so far flammable cladding had been found on three blocks, none of which are in the West Midlands.
Wolverhampton Homes has now completed safety checks on all 36 tower blocks in the city, finding no safety concerns.
The final checks revealed that Graiseley Court, Russell Court and Grosvenor Court in Graiseley are fitted with aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding, which has a 'non-combustible' fire rating.
The cladding materials were also rated as safe in the Heath Town blocks, Brockfield House, Campion House and Longfield House.
"This is good news and confirms that all of these blocks with 'rain screen' cladding, have the highest fire safety ratings," a spokesman for Wolverhampton Homes said.
South Staffordshire's sole tower block does not have any cladding. Stafford also has one high rise, Pennycroft Court, which Chris Poulton, chief executive of Stafford and Rural Homes confirmed does not feature external cladding.
Dudley Council said there were no tower blocks in the borough that were fitted with flammable cladding. It was the same situation in Sandwell and Walsall.
The DCLG said that in blocks where cladding is found to be combustible further tests will be done to ensure buildings were safe and residents could be rehoused.
“Obviously nobody will be living in buildings that are unsafe," it said in a statement. "They will be rehoused if they need to be and landlords will be asked to provide alternative accommodation where that’s possible."
Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle and Nottingham city councils have confirmed that none of their high-rise blocks had cladding like that on Grenfell Tower.
