British investigation blames authorities, companies and industry for the tragedy

Following the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, a public inquiry in the UK brought damaging revelations about this tragic event.

Following the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, a public inquiry in the UK on Wednesday brought damaging revelations about this tragic event.

According to the investigation, the Grenfell Tower fire was the result of negligence on the part of the government, the construction industry and, in particular, the companies responsible for installing the combustible cladding on the building's external façade.

The 1,700-page report blames companies primarily for the tragedy because they were involved in the maintenance and renovation of the tower.

In addition, the authorities were also held accountable for falsely marketing the flammable cladding materials as safe.

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The report sharply criticised the government, Kensington Chelsea Borough Council, regulators, individual officials and an inadequately prepared fire service for their continued inaction on fire safety in high-rise buildings.

“The Grenfell Tower fire was the result of decades of failings by central government and other responsible parties in the construction industry,” the report said.

Previously, a 2019 report by retired judge Martin Moore-Bick found that the fire was sparked by an electrical fault in a fourth-floor refrigerator. The flames spread quickly because the building, renovated in 2016, was clad in flammable aluminum composite cladding, which fueled the fire.

In addition, the report also identified numerous deficiencies, including lessons not learned from previous high-rise fires and inadequate testing systems.

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Most of the blame was placed on those who led the tower's renovation, including architect Studio E, main contractor Rydon and cladding subcontractor Harley. Fire safety inspectors at Exova were also criticised for leaving the building in a dangerous condition after the renovation.