Cheap cladding blamed for rapid spread of Grenfell tower fire

LONDON — Investigations into the London apartment fire that killed 79 and left hundreds homeless suggest that the flames may have spread rapidly due to the exterior panelling.

According to the Institute of Engineering and Technology, the Grenfell Tower cladding used flammable polyurethane foam in between two aluminum sheets, with an air cavity separating it from the insulation and outer wall.

During the fire, the aluminum face fell away, exposing and igniting the flammable foam inside. The air cavity also acted like a chimney, helping spread the flames upward through the building.

The fire started from the fourth floor, and spread to the top in less than an hour.

The British government instructed officials to conduct safety checks on over 600 high-rises, to check if they were fitted with the same material. Eleven other buildings in in the country have been found to have the same cladding.

This cheaper type of cladding is has been associated with high-rise fires elsewhere around the world. It’s been banned in the U.S. but not in the U.K.