Black Country tower block panels removed in wake of Grenfell fire

Sandwell Council started removing panels from balconies and some windows at four blocks of flats yesterday when the issue emerged after safety checks.

Council officials today moved to reassure residents the tower blocks were safe and the work was being carried out as a precautionary measure.

The blocks affected are Astbury Court and Lawrence Court, in Brandhall, Oldbury, and Neale House and Macauley House, in West Bromwich.

Safety checks have been carried out to blocks across the borough in the wake of the Grenfell Tower blaze in London.

Around 80 people are feared to have been killed in the fire on June 14.

Tests only needed to be carried out on aluminium composite panels which are only fixed around balconies and some windows at the four buildings.

These panels are different to cladding which is a material which completely covers the outside of buildings.

Although the panelling complies with current building regulations, as a result of the test, council bosses took the decision to remove and replace the panelling with immediate effect.

The main cladding of these buildings is made of a different material so this work only affects certain panels.

It is unclear at this stage why the panels met current building regulations but failed to pass latest government tests.

Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for housing, Councillor Kerrie Carmichael, said: “Firstly, we’d like to reassure residents that they are safe to remain in their buildings while we carry out work to remove the panels in question.

"The main cladding on these four blocks is not the same as that used at Grenfell Tower nor is it made of aluminium composite like the panelling we're having to remove.

"We acted as soon as safety issues came to light about panelling on balconies and around some windows at these four blocks.

“Work to remove these panels started first thing on Tuesday morning. It will carry on over the weekend and is expected to be completed by the end of next week.

The removed panels will be later replaced when fire resistant materials can be installed.”

Sandwell Council chief executive, Jan Britton, added: “While the panels comply with current building regulations, in light of the test results and recent events we are taking this action because the safety of our residents always comes first.”

Fire wardens have been on site at all four buildings overnight and will continue to carry out regular patrols until all panels have been removed.

In addition to this, council staff have been providing information and reassurance to residents.

Safety checks to smoke alarms and detectors will also be carried out every morning and afternoon.

Phil Loach, the West Midlands' Chief Fire Officer said: "We absolutely understand that this is a time of concern for high-rise residents. We continue to work closely with our colleagues in all of the West Midlands' seven local authority areas.

"The safety of people living in high-rise blocks is paramount, which is why our fire safety officers have already responded by carrying out internal and external assessments of the four premises in Sandwell.

"We welcome the council's decision to employ fire marshals at the buildings. By yesterday evening, our local fire crews had completed visits to the premises.

"This is part of our ongoing programme to reassure residents and be familiar with key buildings on their local 'patch'."

Astbury and Lawrence Courts, in Hereford Road and Aldridge Road respectively, are eight storey blocks built in 1964. They were refurbished in a £6 million project in around 2008. There are 48 flats in each.

A total of £4.5 million was ploughed into work at Neale House and Macauley House, both in Glover Street, which were fitted with new windows and new roof, also around nine years ago. There are 36 flats in each.

A Department for Communities and Local Government spokesman said: “Independent experts have provided advice on how to carry out a test that will show whether a panel is likely to meet the requirement of limited combustibility set out in Building Regulations guidance.

"The Building Research Establishment (BRE) has adopted that approach in the tests now being conducted.”

The BRE has been carrying out tests on behalf of the Government of building materials supplied by councils across the country.

The Government say tests determine the gross heat of combustion of products in a device called a bomb calorimeter.

A small sample of material is burnt in a pure oxygen atmosphere. The purpose of this testing is to quickly and reliably screen the core material and identify the different types.