Hadleigh-based firm Celotex faces tough action after Government announces response to Grenfell Tower inquiry

The former owners of a Hadleigh-based insulation maker face tough action for their role in a devastating high-rise fire in 2017, which claimed the lives of 72 people.

The Government announced a formal debarment investigation into seven organisations after confirming it accepted all recommendations of the final Grenfell Tower inquiry report.

Published last year, the report concluded that ‘systematic dishonesty’ within the construction industry led to Grenfell Tower being fitted with combustible cladding.

Celotex, based on Hadleigh’s Lady Lane Industrial Estate, was among the companies implicated after its RS5000 insulation contributed to the blaze’s catastrophic spread.

As a consequence, the Government revealed last week that it was formally investigating Saint-Gobain Construction Products UK Ltd – the previous owners of Celotex.

Along with six other firms, Saint-Gobain will be pursued under the Procurement Act 2023, which could see it face debarment from public contracts, if the investigation finds it “engaged in professional misconduct”.

In announcing the Government’s actions, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner name-checked Celotex as one of the firms to have ‘mis-sold’ its products for use in the Grenfell refurbishment.

“Their disgraceful, mercenary behaviour put profit before people, and exploited the regulatory regime to evade accountability, with fatal consequences,” she said.

“The Grenfell Tower tragedy claimed 72 innocent lives in a disaster that should never have happened.

“The final report exposed in stark and devastating detail the shocking industry behaviour and wider failures that led to the fire, and the deep injustices endured by the bereaved, survivors and residents.

“We are acting on all of the inquiry’s findings, and detailing the tough action we are taking to drive change and reform the system, to ensure no community will ever have to face a tragedy like Grenfell again.

“That means greater accountability, stronger regulation and putting residents at the heart of decision-making.

“We must deliver the fundamental change required – we owe that to the Grenfell community, to the country and to the memory of those who lost their lives.”

Sir Martin Moore-Bick, chairman of the Grenfell Inquiry, stated in his final report that Celotex had intentionally manipulated fire safety tests to achieve certification for the RS5000 cladding.

The firm was also found to have promoted the insulation as safe for high-rise structures, despite knowing this was not the case.

“In an attempt to break into the market for insulation suitable for use on high-rise buildings, Celotex embarked on a dishonest scheme to mislead customers and the wider market,” said Sir Martin.

“Celotex marketed RS5000 as acceptable for use in buildings above 18 metres in height.

“However, the test on which Celotex relied in support of that claim had been manipulated – a fact that Celotex did not disclose in its marketing literature.”

Saint-Gobain was approached for comment.