RESIDENTS of a Belfast high-rise apartment block have finally been told their building is not cladded in the same material used in Grenfell Tower.
Tests were carried out on the cladding of Durham House in Belfast city centre following last month's blaze at the 24-storey Grenfell Tower in west London, in which at least 80 people died - with the final death toll as yet unconfirmed.
Residents of Durham House feared the building on Durham Street, which contains one and two bedroom flats, was cladded with Aluminium Composite Material, the substance that helped propel the fire that consumed Grenfell Tower in the early hours of June 14.
In the wake of the tragedy, which is understood to have been sparked by a fridge/freezer in one of the apartments, dozens of tower blocks in local authority areas across Britain failed safety tests on cladding, while in the north, the Housing Executive carried out similar tests on its high-rise properties.
Housing associations did likewise, including Radius Housing, which owns Durham House.
As samples of the cladding were removed for inspection, Radius carried out further fire safety checks inside the property, and provided a 24-hour presence on-site in a bid to ease residents' concerns.
Now a spokesman has confirmed that Durham House – which is facing demolition after Belfast City Council last year approved plans to build a new apartment complex at the site – is not cladded with the same material.
"We have received confirmation from BRE (British Research Establishment) that the cladding on Durham House is not Aluminium Composite Material," he said.
"Recent NI Fire and Rescue Service and independent fire assessor inspections at the building have confirmed compliance with fire regulations. We have written to all residents informing them of the results."
