Shadow minister suggests banning Kingspan from public-sector contracts in wake of Grenfell

Grenfell Tower summer 2020 a

Irish insulation giant shaken by revelations during inquiry into the fire

Labour’s shadow housing minister has asked the government whether it has considered banning Kingspan from public-sector deals following the revelations about its conduct that have been emerging from the Grenfell Inquiry.

The Irish materials firm has been hit by weeks of damaging headlines - including that it commissioned and deliberately “gamed” tests on competitors’ insulation. Its Kooltherm K15 foam board insulation was used on a small area of the Grenfell Tower although it was never specified.

Last November, the inquiry into the June 2017 fire that killed 72 people was read a series of emails from Kingspan technical manager Philip Heath who said a facade consultant could “go fuck themselves” after the specialist advised contractor Bowmer & Kirkland that K15 was not suitable for use on high-rise buildings.

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