Obligation to check cladding on private sector

Managers of tall buildings over 6 stories/18m tall are reminded that they must check the building for the presence of ACM materials on/in their buildings. Free sample testing is available through Building Research Establishment via DCLG.

DCLG are placing new emphasis on private sector building owners/managers ensuring they have taken positive action to identify and test ACM materials. Importantly, DCLG are now asking for reporting on tall buildings that are ACM free to rule these buildings out of risk. This will leave a list of tall buildings that have not been checked/reported on and those buildings will be focussed on by agencies. In summary, check your tall buildings and report your finding positive and negative.  

ACM found in private tower blocks in Glasgow

Following the Grenfell Tower blaze in June, the Scottish Government ordered councils to carry out checks to see if ACM had been used on flats in their area. Glasgow City Council later revealed combustible cladding had been found on 57 private high- rise buildings.

Last month the authority said further investigations had reduced that total to 19.

Residents of two multi-storey towers blocks in Castlebank Place and 350 Meadowside Quay were written to by the Council because the material used on them was similar to that on Grenfell Tower. The letter dated October 1 told residents that they should “seek specialist fire safety advice.” The letter tells each resident they are being informed as their block is above 18m in height and “has a cladding system as part of its construction.” The material is understood to have been used to clad external lift shaft coverings on the three blocks.

Block 1 on Castlebank Place is understood to have 273sqm of cladding and the block next to it on Meadowside Quay is understood to also have 273sqm. A shorter block situated on Glasgow Harbour Terrace was identified to have three smaller areas of 37sqm of cladding in use.

Following the letter to all residents and talks between the city council and factors and owners, Glasgow City Council contractors have removed samples of cladding for inspection and testing.