Grenfell Inquiry: Another uncomfortable week for Kingspan

grenfell (3)

Further details emerge of insulation giant’s efforts to convince construction industry Kooltherm K15 was safe for high-rise use

Leading insulation manufacturer Kingspan spent a second week in the spotlight at the public inquiry probing the background to the Grenfell Tower fire, which claimed 72 lives in 2017.

Current and former staff at the firm gave more evidence about the efforts they went to in order to convince the construction industry their Kooltherm K15 phenolic insulation was safe to use on buildings above 18m – despite a lack of genuine test data to evidence those claims.

Last week the inquiry heard that Kingspan relied on 2005 fire-test data for a different version of K15 to support its marketing. This week it emerged that later fire-test results were secured using a “trial” version of the product that was also different to the version actually being sold to the construction industry.

Already registered? Login here

To continue enjoying Building.co.uk, sign up for free guest access

Existing subscriber? LOGIN

 

Stay at the forefront of thought leadership with news and analysis from award-winning journalists. Enjoy company features, CEO interviews, architectural reviews, technical project know-how and the latest innovations.

  • Limited access to building.co.uk
  • Breaking industry news as it happens
  • Breaking, daily and weekly e-newsletters

Get your free guest access  SIGN UP TODAY

Gated access promo

Subscribe now for unlimited access

 

Subscribe to Building today and you will benefit from:

  • Unlimited access to all stories including expert analysis and comment from industry leaders
  • Our league tables, cost models and economics data
  • Our online archive of over 10,000 articles
  • Building magazine digital editions
  • Building magazine print editions
  • Printed/digital supplements

Subscribe now for unlimited access.

View our subscription options and join our community