EDINBURGH Napier University’s new halls of residence are to be stripped of some of their cladding after it was discovered that the building had panels similar to those used on Grenfell Tower in London.
At least 79 people are feared to have been killed in the blaze at Grenfell on June 14, and since then there has been a nationwide alert about the cladding and its possible combustibility.
Up until yesterday, cladding from 95 towers in 32 local authority areas in England had failed safety tests which were carried out in the aftermath of the Grenfell disaster.
In Scotland, however, no local authority or housing association tower blocks have been found to use the same material.
Napier confirmed yesterday that Bainfield, which is located in the Fountain Park area of Edinburgh near to where Sir Sean Connery was born, had been found to have Grenfell-type cladding on approximately a quarter of the building.
The wood-effect exterior cladding being removed – Reynobond PE – is made up of two thin aluminium sheets with a polyethylene filler. The insulation material behind the cladding is Rockwool, which is a non-combustible product.
Bainfield is owned by Standard Life Investments and the University has a long-term full repairing and insuring lease on the building.
Its 117 flats house students who can pay rent of up to £6028 per scholastic year and who have the use of communal lounges which include 40”
wall-mounted smart televisions.
Napier said that a contractor has been appointed to replace the cladding, and the work is currently expected to take around four weeks.
Most of the students who stayed there have ended their terms and those entering the accommodation for the 2017-18 academic year on September 1 will not be affected by the work.
An Edinburgh Napier University spokesperson said: “Following the Grenfell Tower fire in London we immediately began a review of all our buildings. A physical inspection identified that around a quarter of the exterior walls on one of our buildings – Bainfield Halls of residence – featured the same cladding reportedly used at Grenfell.
“The insulation materials behind the Bainfield cladding panels are non-combustible, the panel hangings are all made of metal, the wall cavities are properly fire-stopped and the buildings are fitted with sprinklers.
“There are also a range of other fire safety measures in place, including each block having its own exit route, a modern fire alarm and smoke detection system that is tested weekly, and 24-hour on-site security.
“Work has already begun to remove and replace the cladding as a precautionary measure, and we are working closely with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to ensure it is safe to continue to use the building as normal. Residents are not being evacuated.
“In the meantime, we have written to all the current Bainfield tenants about the issue, encouraging them to contact us with any concerns they might have.”
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said the Service had been “made aware that Edinburgh Napier University is currently in the process of removing cladding from Bainfield Halls of Residence after a physical inspection highlighted that exterior walls featured the same cladding reportedly used at Grenfell.
“Firefighters will also be available to provide reassurance to residents, staff and the wider community.”
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