Mid and East Antrim Council considers combustible materials ban proposals in wake of Grenfell tragedy

The local authority has issued a response to a consultation by the Department of Finance over amendments to building regulations.

The Department says: “Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy and the lessons and findings coming out of the ongoing public inquiry, the consultation proposes setting a minimum performance standard for materials which can be used or attached to the external walls of certain types of buildings.

“The consultation seeks views on a range of issues including the types and heights of buildings to which the new standard should apply.”

A report to the council’s Borough Growth Committee said: “Since the Grenfell fire, there has been much debate about compliance with building regulations.

“The objective of this policy change is to provide certainty about materials to be used in external wall systems of certain buildings and legislation to introduce a requirement to ban the use of combustible materials on the external walls of relevant buildings, mainly of a residential type.”

It is proposed that the ban of certain materials to be used in external wall systems that would apply to buildings 18 metres high.

Buildings over this height in Mid and East Antrim include the Latharna House block of flats and Laharna Buildings apartment block in Larne (read previous story on high rise residents urged to highlight concerns here.)

However, the council is in favour of supporting the setting of a lower threshold of 11 metres. Reducing the height threshold to 11 metres would prohibit the use of combustible building materials in residences which are four storeys and higher.

Seventy-two people lost their lives as a result of the Grenfell Tower fire in London in June 2017.

The consultation will continue until October 9.

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter

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