Thread by @PeteApps

Update from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry:

Fire risk assessor reassured TMO that Grenfell cladding "complied with the building regulations" less than two months before the fire

Carl Stokes, who did risk assessments for Grenfell Tower and other buildings in Kensington from 2010 to 2017, was asked to comment on a letter sent by the London Fire Brigade in April 2017 following concerns about a fire in Shepherd's Bush

That fire spread up the building via spandrel panels made of timber of polystyrene and prompted the LFB to "strongly urge" considering the issue of external fire spread in future risk assessments. The email went to RBKC, who forwarded it to the TMO, who forward it to Stokes.

A week later, the head of health and safety at the TMO asks him to comment - saying she does not think they have blocks 'with external cladding of this nature'.

He writes back saying: "Grenfell was clad but the cladding complied with the requirements of building regulations"

He himself says his knowledge of cladding was 'limited' and he was 'not a construction or materials specialist'.

"Why didn't you simply direct her to ask the question of someone who was a specialist advisor in relation to the cladding?" asks counsel to the inquiry

Mr Stokes' explanation is that the fire in Shepherd's Bush was infill panels below windows, not overcladding - so essentially he thought the system at Grenfell was different.

By this point, it has been given a completion certificate by building control and Mr Stokes had been on an informal tour of the site with Rydon. His view is that building control would not have signed it off if it didn't comply.

A couple of other important topics covered this morning, including the smoke extract system. Will have a report at the end of the day.