Firm hits back at suggestions its British Board of Agrement certificate for ACM panels was misleading
A lawyer for Arconic has told the Grenfell Inquiry there is an 鈥渁genda鈥� against his client and hit back at claims its fire safety certification for its aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding was misleading.
Arconic, which manufactured cladding used on the Grenfell tower, was yesterday named first in a 鈥榬anking鈥� of firms responsible for the 2017 tragedy which killed 72 people by a lawyer representing bereaved families and survivors.
The firm has been accused of concealing the results of a fire safety test of its Reynobond PE cladding used in a folded version of the product, known as cassettes 鈥� as opposed to the riveted form of the product 鈥� from the British Board of Agrement in order to obtain a certificate for both forms of use.
But Stephen Hockman, KC, speaking at the inquiry yesterday, said: 鈥淚t has sometimes seemed to our clients that there has been an agenda throughout to subject them to condemnation even before the case has been fully heard.鈥�
Hockman said a careful reading of the BBA certificate itself would 鈥渉ave put everyone on notice of potential problems鈥�.
He added: 鈥淭he BBA certificate, read as a whole, as it must be, not only makes it crystal clear that the product was combustible, but also contains explicit limitations or disclaimers as to the extent to which a purchaser can use the product in a particular architectural context without himself taking responsibility for testing and checking that it is suitable.鈥�
He said that if those concerned in the refurbishment project assumed that ACM panels were suitable, regardless of issues such as the fixing method, then 鈥渢hat is an approach for which they must be held responsible鈥�.
Geraint Webb KC, representing insulation manufacturer Kingspan, pointed to test results from inquiry expert Professor Luke Bisby to argue that the cause of the rapid fire spread was ACM, not insulation.
Webb said: 鈥淎ll of the expert evidence is consistent: the type of insulation made no material difference to the speed and spread of the fire.鈥�
>> See also: Decay, delay and deregulation: what we have learnt from the Grenfell Inquiry
>> See also: Grenfell survivors鈥� lawyer describes 鈥榬ogues gallery鈥� of firms accountable for fire
Other firms criticised during the inquiry also made their case yesterday. Jonathan Laidlaw KC, appearing for cladding subcontractor Harley Facades said fire safety was not Harley鈥檚 鈥渁rea of responsibility鈥�.
He told the inquiry: 鈥淚t was not Harley who were the architects charged with producing a compliant design, including the selection of safe products; neither were they the fire engineers.鈥�
He added Harley was entitled to rely on architects Studio E and fire engineers Exova to 鈥渄ischarge this pivotal role鈥�.
Lee Bennett, a barrister representing smoke ventilation system PSB UK, argued there was no definitive evidence that smoke had leaked from the ventilation system.
He said: 鈥淭he panel may reasonably consider that there is no cogent and reliable factual connection between any act or omission on the part of PSB and the injurious spread of smoke on the night of the fire.鈥�
The inquiry continues today with statements expected from lawyers representing manufacturer Celotex, the BBA, Kensington and Chelsea council, Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation and the Mayor of London.
Phase 1 of the inquiry was published in October 2019. No date for when the second phase will report has been given.
