Thread by @PeteApps

Report from today at the Grenfell Tower Inquiry:

President of the firm which sold the highly combustible used on Grenfell denies that a 2005 test in which it failed “spectacularly” was the firm’s “deadly secret”

insidehousing.co.uk/news/grenfell-…

There is a lot in today's evidence which is crucial in understanding why Grenfell happened. Essentially, we heard the details of a test in 2005 which showed the cladding was exceptionally combustible when bent into a 'cassette' shape

This is the configuration used on Grenfell Tower. Arconic did not warn the market about this risk and instead sold the cladding with a certificate suggesting it met a much higher standard.

Essentially, the firm decided the test was a 'rogue result' because of a preconception that riveted panels would perform worse (the reverse of what happened). Inquiry chair Moore-Bick suggested failing to do further tests was "irrational and irresponsible"

This product was available in the UK market because our guidance set lower standards than many European countries - a rating of Class 0 which our government has been repeatedly warned to amend

Oh, and also - the test on the rivet panel which got a better result? The president of the company today accepted that it was quite possibly obtained dishonestly.