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Grenfell Tower fire: May calls for investigation on cladding

By Andrew V. Pestano
London's Grenfell Tower fire in which at least 79 people died led to the testing of cladding in at least 95 buildings, all which failed in their fire safety examinations. Britain's prime minister has called for a "major national investigation" to prevent further tragedies. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI
London's Grenfell Tower fire in which at least 79 people died led to the testing of cladding in at least 95 buildings, all which failed in their fire safety examinations. Britain's prime minister has called for a "major national investigation" to prevent further tragedies. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

June 27 (UPI) -- British Prime Minister Theresa May has called for a "major national investigation" into the use of cladding after all buildings tested for fire safety failed.

During a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, May said 95 high-rise buildings in 32 of Britain's counties failed cladding fire safety tests. The buildings tested represent all samples submitted to the government after London's Grenfell Tower fire in which at least 79 people died.

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"There will need to be a major national investigation into what's gone wrong, when cladding that's failing the tests has been fitted on buildings in this country over a number of decades," May said.

British politicians have urged local councils and landlords to send samples of cladding to determine more possible fire hazards.

Residents of the Hurstway, Testerton, Barandon and Grenfell Walks communities in London's Lancaster West housing estate, which is in North Kensington, where the Grenfell Tower was located, said the investigation into the deadly fire and into fire safety in Britain "must leave no stone unturned."

"It must identify each and every individual and organization who must bear responsibility and accountability for this tragedy and the mishandling of the aftermath," the residents wrote in an open letter. "There must be swift recommendations to ensure there can be no chance of a repeat of this disaster elsewhere."

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May's call for an investigation comes after Arconic, the U.S.-based company that supplied cladding material to the Grenfell Tower, stopped sales of its Reynobond PE panels product following the deadly fire -- citing "inconsistency of building codes across the world."

British investigators said the Grenfell Tower fire began on June 14 when a refrigerator in a fourth-floor apartment caught fire. The building's cladding fueled the flames as they rapidly ascended and engulfed most of the 24-story building.

Construction for the building was completed in 1974 and it underwent a renovation that was completed in May 2016. Cladding was added during the renovations.

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