- In a brochure aimed at customers in other European countries, the company cautions that the polyethylene Reynobond should not be used in buildings taller than 10 meters, or about 33 feet, consistent with regulations in the United States and elsewhere. “Fire is a key issue when it comes to buildings,” the brochure explains. “Especially when it comes to facades and roofs, the fire can spread extremely rapidly.”
A diagram shows flames leaping up the side of a building. “As soon as the building is higher than the firefighters’ ladders, it has to be conceived with an incombustible material,” a caption says.
But the marketing materials on Arconic’s British website are opaque on the issue.
“Q: When do I need Fire Retardant (FR) versus Polyethylene (PR) Reynobond? The answer to this, in part, depends on local building codes. Please contact your Area Sales Manager for more information,” reads a question-and-answer section.
For more than a week after the fire, Arconic declined repeated requests for comment. Then, on Thursday, the company confirmed that its flammable polyethylene panels had been used on the building. “The loss of lives, injuries and destruction following the Grenfell Tower fire are devastating, and we would like to express our deepest sympathies,” the company said. Asked about its varying product guidelines, the company added, “While we publish general usage guidelines, regulations and codes vary by country and need to be determined by the local building code experts.”
The silent hand of the free market will produce sufficient market regulation to protect those that can afford it.
To be fair, our absolutist argument places an infinite value on human life, which isn't practical. But I'll let you know when I'm convinced that the wealthy are pulling their weight. We're so far from there.
But Odder, it's so chic right now. I'm also in disbelief that a fucking facade killed dozens of people. A facade to appease the demands of wealthy real-estate holders. I think it's one of the most tragic embodiments of class warfare that I've seen lately.flammable garbage
To be fair, that facade also provided energy savings; increased albedo and increased insulation are their own reward. The issue is that they went with the flammable ones rather than the flame-retardant ones 'cuz they're cheaper, obviously, and because UK building codes don't require "things on the outside of skyscrapers" to not be flammable.
I remember when I was doing the Architectural Technician course in college the first time learning about how our regulations compare to ones in England and how many of their buildings would not be allowed here. It was known for quite some time that this shit should not have been happening.