Certifier based fire rating for Grenfell foam on tests of other products, inquiry hears

Brian Moore 1

Former BBA chief admitted he was not sure if decision was permitted under UK fire regulations

A major certifying body may have based the fire rating it gave a combustible insulation product which was used on the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower on tests of different products, the inquiry has heard.

The former deputy chief executive at the British Board of Agrément (BBA), Brian Moore, admitted it was “more likely than not” that the classification of Kingspan’s K15 insulation had been “extrapolated” from test reports on other phenolic foam products produced by the firm dating back as far as 1991.

Moore, who joined the BBA in 2014, told Tuesday’s hearing that there were no records of test data being received by Kingspan in the folder of a 2008 certificate which gave the product a Class 0 rating, with the folder’s fire section instead containing a series of fire reports on other Kingspan products.

This content is available to registered users | Already registered?Login here

You are not currently logged in.

To continue reading this story, sign up for free guest access

Existing Subscriber? LOGIN

REGISTER for free access on selected stories and sign up for email alerts. You get:

  • Up to the minute architecture news from around the UK
  • Breaking, daily and weekly e-newsletters

 

Subscribe to Building Design and you will benefit from:

Gated access promo

  • Unlimited news
  • Reviews of the latest buildings from all corners of the world
  • Technical studies
  • Full access to all our online archives
  • PLUS you will receive a digital copy of WA100 worth over £45

Subscribe now for unlimited access.