Fears Rise of Another Grenfell Tower Type Disaster
Student high rise accommodation with similar cladding to Grenfell Tower is another tragedy just waiting to happen.
Over the years, the concept of students living in low cost accommodation with squalid hygiene and little or no health and safety concern has been seen almost as a rite of passage. It has even been the subject of TV comedy shows such as The Young Ones and dismissed as just another part of student life. Today we learned of a fire in student halls at Unite Students Parkway Gate halls in Manchester, which raises the question, how safe are student halls?
The tragic events at Grenfell Tower in June have brought the topic into sharp focus and shown that it is anything but a laughing matter. The importance of fire detection and prevention measures, adequate fire exit signs and regular inspections could so easily mean the difference between life and death.
And as the terrible incident in London demonstrates, the construction of the building envelope itself can also play a significant role in determining whether residents have time to get out in the event of a fire.
Use of Reynobond PE cladding in student accommodation
The public enquiry into the Grenfell Tower disaster found that the biggest contributing factor to the fire spreading so quickly was the use of Reynobond PE cladding. Many countries prohibit the use of this material in buildings above a certain height for these exact safety reasons and insist on the use of Reynobond FR, which stands for “fire resistant” instead.
So why was PE used when a safer material is available? Unsurprisingly, it all came down to budget. Reynobond PE is £2 cheaper per square metre, and ultimately, this was the deciding factor.
We all know that the cheap and cheerful approach is favoured in student accommodation, so it comes as little surprise that PE cladding is also the material of choice in a number of high rise blocks in the nation’s universities. Letting agency studenttenant.com has carried out a review to highlight the dangers.
1) Newcastle University
Two accommodation buildings have been confirmed as using similar cladding materials to those at Grenfell Tower. While it has been declared safe by fire inspectors, there are plans to remove it and replace with safer cladding.
2) Wolverhampton University
Two student accommodation blocks were found to be using the same material and were declared unsafe. Shortly before term started, the university announced that nobody would be permitted to move into these blocks, resulting in some 70 displaced students having to find alternative living arrangements at the eleventh hour.
3) University of Lincoln
One building in the Cygnet Wharf development uses the unsafe material. The development is still under construction, so the cladding will be removed and replaced before students are permitted to move in.
4) Edinburgh Napier University
Many of the accommodation buildings use this type of cladding. The university is working with local Fire and Rescue Services to ensure the safety of students, and remedial work is underway.
5) Nottingham Trent University
Three of seven high rise blocks were found to contain Reynobond PE cladding. The university has transferred all students into alternative accommodation while the cladding is removed and replaced.
6) University of Bedford
Two residential blocks – Fitzroy Court in Luton and Liberty Village in Bedford – failed safety tests due to the cladding in use. The university has yet to confirm what, if any, action has been or will be taken.