A Grenfell survivor is shocked as a contractor challenges a council ban linked to the tower fire in court now.
Emma says the fire disrupted her life, adding she didn’t ask for this. Siderise Insulation made some cavity barriers used in the remodel. They are challenging the council’s ban in court, as they think the ban on their products isn’t warranted.
The council had added Siderise to a banned list last December. This list included five other firms linked to the fire. The council banned Rydon, Arconic, Celotex, and Kingspan in 2021. Siderise claims its products don’t fit the ban criteria.
Siderise says its products didn’t cause the fire or its spread, and they were honest with the inquiry, so the ban is unfair. The company wants to protect its reputation, as they are a British manufacturer selling globally.
The council says it stands by its choices. The inquiry found no Siderise dishonesty, but had concerns about their marketing materials. Cavity barriers were used in bigger gaps than tested, and the firm made Lamatherm barriers for the rebuild.
Siderise says its products are still fit to use, conceding marketing lacked helpful info, making it ambiguous. Siderise sympathizes with those affected by the fire, but claims they are not to blame, noting they were recently a top workplace.
The inquiry didn’t say their barriers shouldn’t have been used, nor did it say they caused the fire’s spread. The government plans to ban firms linked to Grenfell from contracts. A minister says the PM wrote to 49 firms. Siderise didn’t get a letter and doesn’t expect government restrictions either.