The GrenFell Tower Fire: A Tragedy Foretold

The ongoing news surrounding the Grenfell Tower fire and the combustible cladding used in its construction is both infuriating and heartbreaking. Having worked in the insulation industry during the 1990s, representing Rockwool and Euroclad, I find this situation painfully familiar. Back then, my team and I campaigned for the use of Rockwool insulation—a non-combustible, fire-resistant material. Yes, it is heavier, more expensive, and likely more challenging to install compared to polyisocyanurate or rigid polystyrene alternatives. However, we understood that safety should never be compromised.

The global foam-based insulation companies invested heavily in marketing, emphasising that while their materials would ignite, the time it took would allow for safe evacuation. They spun this narrative, trying to reassure specifiers, architects, and the public. But we knew better. We worked closely with the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Fire Safety & Rescue to try educate and influence the building regs, we staged numerous fire tests, demonstrating the stark difference between combustible and non-combustible cladding. We aimed to educate and influence government policies to avoid the use of dangerous materials in building construction.

Our warnings although acknowledged, largely fell on deaf ears and the vigorous campaigning from the insulation manufacturers eventually moved on. Now, years later, we face the devastating consequences of those decisions. The Grenfell tragedy was not an unforeseen event—it was the result of ignored warnings and misplaced priorities. The ongoing inquiry will likely confirm what we have known all along: combustible cladding is a disaster waiting to happen.

But the disgrace doesn't end with Grenfell. Countless buildings—schools, hospitals, homes, and offices—are still covered in this combustible cladding. The risk of another disaster looms large, and while retrofitting these buildings will cost millions, we must ask ourselves: what is the cost of a life?

It's time to hold those responsible accountable and to take decisive action to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again. We cannot afford to ignore the lessons of Grenfell.