A legal battle is underway as a contractor involved in the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower prior to the 2017 fire challenges a ban imposed by Kensington and Chelsea Council (RBKC). This challenge comes after RBKC extended the ban in November to include companies like Kingspan, Celotex, Arconic, and Rydon, with Siderise Insulation being added to the list later on. Siderise has refuted RBKC’s decision, stating that its products do not align with the council’s criteria for the ban.
In response to Siderise’s legal challenge, RBKC stood by its decision, emphasizing the importance of safety measures. Emma O’Connor, a survivor of the Grenfell Tower fire, expressed shock at Siderise Insulation’s challenge, highlighting the disruption caused by the tragic incident. Siderise was responsible for manufacturing some of the cavity barriers used during the tower’s refurbishment in 2015-16.
While Siderise products were utilized in the Grenfell refurbishment, the Grenfell Inquiry report did not implicate the company or its products in the fire. Despite this, the exclusion of Siderise from future projects by RBKC has sparked controversy. The Grenfell Inquiry’s Phase 2 report also raised concerns about certain aspects of Siderise’s marketing materials, although the company insisted that its products were still suitable for their intended purpose.
Moreover, the government has taken action to prevent firms linked to the Grenfell Tower fire from participating in public procurement. Junior housing minister Alex Norris revealed that the Prime Minister had contacted 49 companies as a preliminary step to restrict their eligibility for government contracts. Siderise stated that it had not received any such communication from the government and anticipated not being affected by any forthcoming restrictions on government contracts
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