THE MANAGING agents of a block of flats which has failed a government combustibility test following the Grenfell disaster, have insisted the building is safe.

As reported last week, Nova House in Buckingham Gardens, Slough, sent residents letters informing them tests carried out by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) had been unsuccessful. The BRE has been testing cladding from tower blocks across the country for Aluminium Composite Materials (ACM) and so far all 181 sent for testing have failed, including the block in Slough.

The Ringley Group, which manages the modern block, has since said that it believes the building is safe and complies with UK Building Regulations to date.

Mary-Anne Bowring, on behalf of Ringley, said: “Within two hours of receiving the test results Ringley’s Property Team had arranged a joint inspection between the Fire Service and our Fire Consultant, who himself was in the fire service for 29 years and was on site.

“The inspection determined that the building did not need to be decanted and is safe for occupation.” She also said that the building was not technically a high rise and ‘has a number of other fire safety systems installed including a fire alarm, smoke vent system, dry risers, compartmental, fire doors etc’.”

She added: “We have no instructions from our client, the freeholder, to replace the cladding to date. The developer complied with all building regulations, issued new build guarantees following regular inspection of the works, methods, materials and passed a fire officer inspection. Until the result of the public enquiry is known and any new legislation is brought in the materials on Nova House are compliant with UK Building Regulations. I have no doubt that our client, like all other property owners, awaits the advice from the public enquiry and will act responsibly as soon as further directives are received.”

“We in turn as managing agent have been in close contact with our client and have at every stage acted with utmost urgency.”