Archinect - News 2024-11-05T09:03:10-05:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/150013048/grenfell-tower-fire-corbyn-calls-for-empty-flats-in-the-adjacent-area-to-be-requisitioned-as-evidence-grows-that-negligence-responsible-for-the-blaze Grenfell Tower Fire: Corbyn calls for empty flats in the adjacent area to be requisitioned as evidence grows that negligence responsible for the blaze Nicholas Korody 2017-06-16T13:47:00-04:00 >2017-06-16T13:47:18-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/3u/3uiuf35ugph8ot38.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p>Reports indicate that a cladding, banned in the United States, added to the Grenfell Tower was <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/16/manufacturer-of-cladding-on-grenfell-tower-identified-as-omnis-exteriors" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">largely responsible</a> for the intensity of the <a href="http://archinect.com/news/article/150012673/london-tower-block-fire-kills-twelve-previous-warnings-about-very-poor-fire-safety-standards-may-have-gotten-ignored" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">fire</a> that claimed <em>at least </em>30 lives earlier this week in North Kensington. It was just &pound;2 cheaper per square meter than an alternative, fire resistant version. Disturbingly, the cladding was added to appease wealthy residents nearby, <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/london-fire-grenfell-tower-kensington-mp-emma-dent-coad-cladding-refurbishment-a7792901.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">states</a> Emma Dent Coad, the Kensington MP, and to &lsquo;regenerate&rsquo; the area through development.</p><p>Anger has risen as the fire increasingly looks less like a tragic accident and more and more like the <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/london-fire-anger-grows-regulations-funding-cut-after-deadly-blaze-n773336" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">result</a>&nbsp;of outdated regulations and funding cuts. For example, sprinkler systems are not mandatory in public housing blocks&mdash;raising fears that some 4,000 similar blocks are at risk of similar tragedies. It is important to note that black and minority ethnic people are disproportionately housed in such flats.</p><p>When a fire erupted in 2009 in another tower block, analysis made clear inadequate measures were being taken to address fi...</p>