Ministry of Defence: Buildings

(asked on 3rd November 2021) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many building projects on his estate, including at HMNB Clyde, that were found to be using, or were planning to use combustible cladding in the construction were allowed to continue following the fire at Grenfell in 2017.


Answered by
Jeremy Quin Portrait
Jeremy Quin
This question was answered on 8th November 2021

Following the Grenfell fire new Government regulations were issued on combustible materials. These initially focussed on Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) used on the Grenfell Tower. Investigations confirmed that none of the external wall systems employed in the MOD’s highrise buildings contained ACM nor were any highrise buildings already designed and being delivered to the MOD expected to contain ACM.

Further regulations have since been issued by the relevant authorities.

All new builds on the defence estate are subject to these revised Building Regulations. The consideration of whether combustible external walling systems can be provided on buildings is defined within National Building Standards and is related to building height.

In addition, in 2020 the MOD introduced a policy directive instructing that all new external walling systems should comprise of non-combustible components.

In all highrise buildings currently occupied on the defence estate identified as having combustible external wall systems, a current Fire Risk Assessment is in place and the buildings remain legally compliant for continued occupation.

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