The Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report is a comprehensive investigation into the events leading up to and following the devastating fire at Grenfell Tower in London on June 14, 2017, which claimed 72 lives.
Phase 2 focuses on understanding the wider circumstances and the responsibilities of various parties involved in the refurbishment of the building, which contributed to the fire’s spread. Below we summarise the key findings.
For more detailed information, please visit https://www.grenfelltowerinquiry.org.uk/ Please note the reports warn that they contain content which some may find distressing.
The Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Key Findings:
- Failures in Building Regulations and Enforcement: The report highlights systemic failures in the regulatory framework governing fire safety. It found that the building’s refurbishment, particularly the installation of combustible cladding, was a major factor in the rapid spread of the fire. The report criticises both the inadequacy of regulations and the failure of enforcement bodies to properly monitor compliance.
- Role of Contractors and Consultants: The inquiry identified serious shortcomings among the various contractors and consultants involved in the refurbishment. These include failures in design, testing, and oversight. The report is particularly critical of the main contractor, Rydon, and the cladding manufacturer, Arconic, for neglecting safety in favour of cost-cutting.
- Government and Local Authority Responsibility: The report holds the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) and the Tenant Management Organisation (TMO) accountable for ignoring residents’ concerns and failing to ensure that the refurbishment met safety standards. It also criticizes central government for not addressing known risks related to cladding systems before the disaster.
- Firefighting and Emergency Response: The report acknowledges the challenges faced by the London Fire Brigade (LFB) during the incident but criticises their preparation and response. It highlights inadequate training, poor communication, and the failure to evacuate residents sooner as critical issues.
- Impact on Residents: The report brings to light the neglect of Grenfell residents’ voices before the fire. Many had raised concerns about fire safety, but these were largely ignored by the authorities and contractors. The report emphasises the need for greater consideration of residents’ views in housing safety matters.
Report Recommendations:
The Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report makes several recommendations to prevent such a tragedy from recurring. These include reforms to building regulations, stricter enforcement of safety standards, improved training and resources for firefighting services. There is also a recommendation for greater emphasis on listening to and addressing residents’ concerns. The inquiry calls for accountability for those responsible and a comprehensive review of the systems that allowed the disaster to happen.
The Phase 2 report is a damning indictment of the failures at multiple levels. The report highlights regulatory, corporate, and governmental failures that contributed to the Grenfell Tower disaster. It calls for significant changes to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again.
Report Recommendations & The NAS
NAS Director, James Filus, emphasises the importance of aligning these recommendations with the Association’s ongoing work to define a sector specific Competency Framework arising from The Building Regulations etc. (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2023. NAS Skills Lead, Amanda Scott, echoes this sentiment. Highlighting that the NAS deems the findings a significant focus for the Association this year, particularly across the skills remit. For more information, click here: https://www.shopfitters.org/the-building-safety-act-and-competence/
If you are affected by these hearings and need support, please contact the Grenfell Health & Wellbeing service helpline: 0208 637 6279 (0800 0234 650 for out-of-hours support). Alternatively contact Hestia Grenfell Support on 0800 246 5617.
