Council moves to reassure housing tenants over fire safety

MORAY COUNCIL HAS moved to reassure residents over the safety of domestic buildings in the region in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire disaster in London.

Both the UK and Scottish Governments issued directives to all social housing providers that required them to carry out fire safety audits to any domestic buildings that are over 18m from ground level.

They are also required to report any such buildings that had been retro-fitted with rain-screen cladding.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, a Moray Council spokesman said: “We have no domestic properties above 18m – the type of rain-screen cladding that was fitted at Grenfell Tower is not a product that we have used in any of our domestic properties.

“In recent years, the Council has worked in partnership with SSE energy solutions to provide external wall insulation programmes to both private and council owned housing. These works are different to that carried out at Grenfell Tower and a statement that has been issued by SSE providing further information.”

The SSE Statement reads: “SSE was greatly saddened by the news of the fire in London and our thoughts are with those affected.

“In light of the fire at Grenfell Tower, SSE’s Energy Solutions business has contacted its contractors and External Wall Insulation (EWI) system designers to reconfirm that all of the products installed are manufactured and certified to the appropriate safety standards.

“Also, we are asking the same parties to reconfirm that the installations have been completed to the required safety standards.

“SSE Energy Solutions works with Contractors and EWI system designers throughout all stages of a contract to ensure that appropriate products are installed in a safe and compliant manner.

“Early indications are that it was a Rainscreen Cladding system installed at Grenfell Tower and not External Wall Insulation. SSE Energy Solutions has not carried out any projects using Rainscreen Cladding systems for any of its clients.

“We will work with our clients to provide the necessary reassurance to residents on the safety concerns raised as a consequence of the fire, and will continue to monitor the situation in London.

“If any tenant or homeowner is concerned about fire safety in their home, they should contact their landlord to discuss their concerns or alternatively, they can get free advice from Fire Scotland.”