In response to residents’ concerns Barnet’s Labour councillors have launched a new petition calling on the Government to ban combustible insulation material still being used in building remediation work.

Kingspan Kooltherm K15 insulation material at the centre of the Grenfell inquiry is being used in remediation work on Zenith Close in Hendon. The material has failed fire safety tests and has been discontinued by the manufacturer. It is banned for use on newbuilds over 60ft but regulations still allow it to be used when repairing buildings. Zenith Close is over 60ft.

Labour’s Housing & Growth spokesperson, Cllr Ross Houston, raised the issue in a member’s item at this week’s Housing & Growth Committee (25 Jan). He asked for urgent building control advice on the safety of using the material. He also asked for confirmation that it was not being used in any Council or Barnet Homes properties.

Barnet Labour’s Housing & Growth spokesperson, Cllr Ross Houston said: “If a material is highly combustible, has failed fire safety tests, has been banned for use in newbuilds over 60ft, and been discontinued by the manufacturer then surely it shouldn’t be used when repairing buildings?

“The Government must investigate this urgently and ban the use of materials like this to ensure safety and protect the public.”

 

Ends.

 

Notes:

  1. A link to the petition can be found here: https://www.barnetlabour.org.uk/2021/01/28/ban-use-of-combustible-material-in-buildings/
  2. A link to Cllr Houston’s member item on this issue can be found here: https://barnet.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s62875/Members%20Items%20-%2025%20January%202021.pdf

Daily Mail coverage of the Zenith Close story: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9140833/Piles-Grenfell-insulation-used-fix-homes.html

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