Fire experts had warned of the risk of deaths at a block of flats in east London as a result of the building’s wooden balconies five months before it went up in flames. An independent fire risk assessment of Samuel Garside House in Barking, built by Bellway Homes, was carried out in January. Building safety experts warned there would probably have been deaths if the fire had started at night. Peter Mason, the chair of the Barking Reach residents’ association, said “everybody is very angry” after news of the warnings emerged. Industry data suggests scores of high-rise residential buildings could be built with such panels, which are often made from compressed paper or wood and synthetic insulation.

Source: The Guardian June 19, 2019 17:26 UTC