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The construction industry 鈥渃annot be trusted to regulate itself鈥� after the disastrous refurbishment of Grenfell Tower, the inquiry into the 2017 fire has been told.

Martin Seward QC, representing the Fire Brigades Union, told yesterday鈥檚 hearing that 鈥渦ltimately, the profit motive prevails over safety and quality鈥�.

The inquiry was hearing closing statements about the tower鈥檚 refurbishment as module 3 of phase 2 of the inquiry draws to a close.

Stephanie Barwise QC, representing some of the bereaved, said the fire which claimed 72 lives 鈥渄emonstrates the existence of a culture of non-compliance within certain sectors of the construction industry鈥�.

She added: 鈥淧ut bluntly, there is a kind of recklessness, as to whether or not compliance is achieved.鈥�

Barwise said certification body the British Board of Agrement, which was unaware that cladding panels manufactured by Arconic failed to meet required fire safety standards until 2018, was a 鈥渉opelessly weak institution鈥�.

She said the body was 鈥渢oo willing to please commercial clients at the expense of ensuring appropriate safety standards鈥�.

Barwise also eviscerated the refurbishment鈥檚 鈥渉apless鈥� lead consultant, architect Studio E, saying the project was 鈥渉astily conceived by an inept design team鈥�.

Studio E, which also gave a closing statement, has since gone into administration.

Prashant Popat QC, representing the practice, said the firm should not be judged in hindsight because it had relied on the advice of experts and had not 鈥渄eparted from the norm鈥�.

He said: 鈥淭he former Studio E employees are devastated that in spite of this, in spite of the way it carried out its duties, such a horrendous tragedy could happen鈥�.

The next module of the inquiry will focus on how central and local government responded to the disaster.