Cardiff hotel fails cladding fire safety inspection

A Cardiff hotel has failed cladding fire safety tests as part of assessments following the Grenfell Tower disaster last year.

The South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority has not named the hotel. It said in a report the property failed tests undertaken as part of risk assessments of high rise buildings in south Wales following the fire at Grenfell Tower in west London last year where 71 people died. It later emerged insulation and cladding tiles at the apartment block failed safety tests.

Business Fire Safety said it has been working closely with the owners of the hotel and a spokesperson for South Wales Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the cladding had been removed.

The spokesperson said: "The Service's Business Fire Safety team has been carrying out a risk-based inspection programme; liaising with local authorities, management companies and owners of high rise premises to ensure the safety of those in our communities.

"In addition, operational and community safety personnel have conducted safe and well visits, home fire safety checks and tested water provisions for firefighting should an incident occur. A review of operational response has also been carried out and the decision has been made to increase the number of appliances that would initially respond to an incident of this nature."

The government commissioned an independent review of building regulations and fire safety last year, and while the final report is due in the spring, an interim report was published in December 2017 which deemed the current regulatory system for ensuring fire safety in high-rise buildings "not fit for purpose".

Photo credit: South Wales Fire and Rescue Service

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