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Enfield Council carries out extra checks on large panel blocks
Enfield Council will carry out extra checks on two of its large panel tower blocks, making it the seventh London authority to inspect the construction of these blocks.
The council owns three tower blocks – Walbrook House, Shropshire House and Cheshire House – that are constructed using the large panel system and have a gas supply.
A spokesperson for the council said all three blocks had been strengthened since the Ronan Point disaster in 1968, when a gas explosion caused a partial collapse of a large panel tower block and the government told all landlords of similar blocks to make sure they were strengthened to withstand a gas explosion. Any blocks that were not strengthened to withstand a blast pressure of 5 psi were banned from having a gas supply.
A spokesperson for the council said its blocks had been strengthened to withstand a 5 psi blast.
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However, structural engineers working for Enfield Council have said they would like to carry out checks on two of the blocks that have only been strengthened up to certain upper floors. These inspections are expected to take place this month.
Enfield Council is the seventh London authority to carry out extra checks on its large panel blocks.
Last year Southwark Council was forced to remove the gas supply from four of its blocks on the Ledbury Estate because the council could not find evidence that the blocks had been strengthened. Hammersmith and Fulham Council has introduced an immediate evacuation policy in two of its blocks after fire safety breaches were found. The other councils carrying out checks are Tower Hamlets, Westminster, Lewisham and Haringey. Haringey Council recently removed gas cookers from nine tower blocks, but has kept the gas supply.
A council spokesperson said: “We can confirm the three properties mentioned – Walbrook House, Shropshire House and Cheshire House – are still standing and they have a gas supply. In addition, we can confirm they were all strengthened following the Ronan Point incident.
“Following our most recent inspections, Shropshire House has been deemed compliant. The two remaining blocks have been strengthened to certain upper floors but structural engineers would like to revisit these for further checks and verification. We expect these inspections to take place in early January.
“We would reiterate that all three blocks have been strengthened.”
Never Again campaign
Inside Housing has launched a campaign to improve fire safety following the Grenfell Tower fire
Never Again: campaign asks
Inside Housing is calling for immediate action to implement the learning from the Lakanal House fire, and a commitment to act – without delay – on learning from the Grenfell Tower tragedy as it becomes available.
LANDLORDS
- Take immediate action to check cladding and external panels on tower blocks and take prompt, appropriate action to remedy any problems
- Update risk assessments using an appropriate, qualified expert.
- Commit to renewing assessments annually and after major repair or cladding work is carried out
- Review and update evacuation policies and ‘stay put’ advice in light of risk assessments, and communicate clearly to residents
GOVERNMENT
- Provide urgent advice on the installation and upkeep of external insulation
- Update and clarify building regulations immediately – with a commitment to update if additional learning emerges at a later date from the Grenfell inquiry
- Fund the retrofitting of sprinkler systems in all tower blocks across the UK (except where there are specific structural reasons not to do so)
We will submit evidence from our research to the Grenfell public inquiry.
The inquiry should look at why opportunities to implement learning that could have prevented the fire were missed, in order to ensure similar opportunities are acted on in the future.
