Grenfell Inquiry Names Companies Behind Tragic Fire: A Culture of Greed and Neglect

Thursday 05 September 2024 - 13:00

In a scathing report, the Grenfell Tower Inquiry has exposed the companies and organizations responsible for the 2017 fire that claimed 72 lives. The inquiry, led by Sir Martin Moore-Bick, found that systemic dishonesty, incompetence, and greed led to the catastrophic event. Failures that contributed to the disaster, including the use of hazardous materials, were traced back decades, with warning signs dating to the early 1990s.

The report, released as the final phase of a seven-year investigation, pinpoints several key players in the tragedy at the West London high-rise. Moore-Bick criticized the widespread manipulation of safety tests for building materials, stating that manufacturers had shown "systematic dishonesty" in their practices. The inquiry emphasized that the disaster was "entirely avoidable," with the deaths caused by corporate negligence and a broken regulatory system.

The Companies at the Heart of the Grenfell Tragedy

The report identified several firms whose actions played a pivotal role in the deadly fire. These include Arconic, Kingspan, and Celotex—companies responsible for producing the highly flammable materials used in the building's refurbishment.

Arconic
Arconic's subsidiary, Arconic Architectural Products SAS (AAP), produced the Reynobond 55 PE panels installed on Grenfell Tower's exterior. These rainscreen panels, composed of thin aluminum sheets with a polyethylene core, were highly flammable and accelerated the spread of the fire. In response, AAP has rejected claims that its products were unsafe, stating, "This product was legal to sell in the UK and safe to use as a building material." Despite this, the company has made financial contributions to settlement funds for those affected by the tragedy.

Kingspan
Kingspan supplied around five percent of the insulation used in the tower's refurbishment. Its K15 insulation boards, also combustible, were installed incorrectly, according to the company. While Kingspan acknowledged historical failings in its UK insulation business, it emphasized that the main cause of the fire was Arconic’s cladding panels. The firm stated, "The type of insulation was immaterial to the spread of the fire, and we have already addressed these issues emphatically."

Celotex
Celotex was responsible for most of the insulation used in the building. Its RS5000 insulation was marketed as safe when, in reality, it was not. The company admitted to conducting its own internal review after the fire and revealed that it had improved its quality control and marketing practices. Celotex, like other companies, expressed sympathies to those affected and pledged ongoing cooperation with official investigations.

Government and Contractor Accountability

Beyond the material manufacturers, the inquiry highlighted the roles of various organizations and contractors. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, which owns Grenfell Tower, and the Kensington & Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO), which managed the property, were both strongly criticized. The council’s leader, Elizabeth Campbell, apologized "unreservedly" for failing to protect residents, stating, "Profits were put before people, and Grenfell was wholly avoidable."

Rydon, the lead contractor for the tower's refurbishment, was condemned for its lack of fire safety expertise. Meanwhile, Harley Facades, responsible for installing the cladding, was found to have failed in ensuring fire safety during the refurbishment process. Studio E, the architectural firm involved in the project, was also criticized for its casual approach to safety, failing to take responsibility for crucial design elements.

The Role of Certification Bodies

Certification bodies such as the British Board of Agrément (BBA) and Local Authority Building Control (LABC) came under fire for approving the dangerous materials used on Grenfell Tower. These organizations have since issued apologies, admitting to errors in the certification process and pledging reforms to improve building safety standards.

What's Next?

The inquiry's findings have been passed on to the Metropolitan Police, which will now investigate the potential for civil and criminal liability. However, the inquiry itself cannot assign blame in legal terms. Survivors and families of the victims, united under the group Grenfell United, have called for those responsible to be held accountable, describing some of the corporate participants as "little better than crooks and killers."

The tragedy at Grenfell Tower has sparked widespread calls for reform in the UK’s building safety regime. The inquiry’s conclusions serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of corporate negligence, and the hope is that the lessons learned from this disaster will lead to safer housing for all.