Fire Brigades Union Scotland Raises Concerns Over Combustible Cladding

The Fire Brigades Union Scotland has raised their concerns over reports that Ministers are set to allow combustible cladding to remain on Scottish buildings despite reports calling for action on the issue following the Grenfell Tower disaster.

John McKenzie, Fire Brigades Union acting regional secretary in Scotland, said: "Were such reports to be accurate the FBU would see this as an indication of the complacency and disrespect for those living and working in buildings enveloped in these materials.


"In the immediate aftermath of the Grenfell fire the FBU, alongside other key fire sector stakeholders, in recognition that all cladding could not be removed overnight, adopted the rational position that the remediation works should be carried out on a risk-based basis. That was in 2017. In that time the building industry and building owners have taken pigeon steps in their approach to carry out the necessary measures. The FBU will oppose any attempt by private firms who seek to cover their past inaction by attempting to sanitise their position by calling for a risk-based approach now. We would expect the Scottish Government to also adopt that position.

"The FBU stands in solidarity with all victims of the building safety crisis. The union has always been clear – residents should not carry any cost for failure they did not cause. Developers, suppliers and buildings owners are responsible, and they should pay."