Kingspan Insulation UK and the Grenfell Tower Inquiry

KINGSPAN STATEMENT - GRENFELL TOWER INQUIRY REPORT

We extend our deepest sympathies to the relatives, survivors and others impacted by the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

We welcome the publication of the final report from the Public Inquiry, which is crucial to a public understanding of what went wrong and why. It explains clearly and unambiguously that the type of insulation (whether combustible or non-combustible) was immaterial, and that the principal reason for the fire spread was the PE ACM cladding, which was not made by Kingspan.

Kingspan has long acknowledged the wholly unacceptable historical failings that occurred in part of our UK insulation business. These were in no way reflective of how we conduct ourselves as a Group, then or now. While deeply regrettable, they were not found to be causative of the tragedy.

Kingspan has already emphatically addressed these issues, including the implementation of extensive and externally-verified measures to ensure our conduct and compliance standards are world leading.

We remain committed to playing a leading role in providing safe and sustainable building solutions, including continuing to work with government and industry partners.

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Media Enquiries

Irish media enquiries:

Pat Walsh; pwalsh@murraygroup.ie; 087 2269345

Richie Oakley; roakley@murraygroup.ie; 087 2451824

UK & International media enquiries:

Ludo Baynham Herd; ludo.baynham-herd@sodali.com, +44 7523 120702

Peter Barrett; peter.barrett@sodali.com; +44 7912 745841

Frequently Asked Questions

Kingspan had no role in the Grenfell Tower refurbishment or the design of the cladding.  

Our K15 insulation product was used without our knowledge. It comprised approximately 5% of the insulation purchased for use by the contractors. The Phase 1 Report of the Grenfell Inquiry stated that “the principal reason” for rapid fire spread on Grenfell was the unsafe ACM cladding panels, which had been used as an external rainscreen on the Tower.  The ACM panels were not a Kingspan product. You can read more about the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower here.  

K15 is a rigid insulation board for use behind rainscreen facades. It is one of the most thermally efficient commonly used insulation products. As with many other types of insulation, it plays an important role in helping buildings to reduce their carbon emissions, retain heat, and reduce energy costs.  

K15 is safe when installed correctly in systems that comply with building regulations. One way to meet these regulations is for the cladding system to be subjected to, and pass, a comprehensive BS 8414 test, where an entire external cladding system is tested for its overall fire resistance rather than that of its individual components.  

Further, the UK government sponsored PAS 9980 code of practice (introduced in January 2022) supports the retention of K15 where the overall cladding system is installed correctly and supported by a successful BS 8414 test, and an appropriate fire engineering judgement.  

Kingspan has full confidence that K15 can be safely used in systems that have passed an BS 8414 test. There is no evidence that any such test was performed on the cladding system used in the Grenfell Tower refurbishment.

Kingspan is not aware of any cladding system, utilising the ACM external rainscreen panels that were used on Grenfell Tower, which has passed a BS 8414 large-scale system test. Put plainly, these ACM panels were simply not safe for use with any form of insulation. 

Please visit our Technical Support page if you have queries relating to the use of K15 on a high-rise residential building. 

For further information about K15

For more information about K15 and it’s retention on multi-storey residential buildings

A small number of internal communications used language, and expressed sentiments on fire safety, that were totally unprofessional and utterly unacceptable. We have apologised and taken robust action to prevent any such behaviour from happening again.  

Further, as Kingspan has explained to the Inquiry, : 

  • Following the change from “old technology” K15 to “new technology” K15 in 2006, it should have carried out a replacement of the 2005 BS 8414 test with "new technology" K15 
  • It should have made it clear that the two BS8414 tests carried out in March and July 2014 incorporated R&D variants of K15 rather than the standard K15 sold at that time 
  • Aspects of early versions on the LABC and BBA certificates were capable of being misunderstood and that such issues should have been drawn to the attention of the issuing bodies.  

We have introduced measures that ensure the regime around fire safety tests meets the highest standards and is industry ‘best practice’. Further details of which can be found here

Further details on the previous testing of K15 can be found on the following pages:

Test conducted in 2005

Test conducted in 2007

Tests conducted in 2014

It is imperative to note that none of the shortcomings, detailed above, contributed in any way to the Grenfell Tower fire.

Kingspan has listened to criticism, taken on board the evidence, and as a result implemented a series of significant changes. Kingspan Group commissioned an independent review of its UK insulation board business from law firm Eversheds Sutherland.  

Our response to that review was to implement a series of measures which were audited in January 2024. In line with Kingspan’s commitment to improve business practices, Eversheds Sutherland found that all recommendations had been implemented. 

  • Measures taken include: 
  • Enhanced staff training - 95% of employees have completed training on the group ‘Code of Conduct’  
  • Accountability for risk management and safety is now the clear responsibility of every employee 
  • Creating best practice manuals for testing, accreditation, and marketing materials 
  • Implementing a robust structure to record customer and employee feedback 
  • Improved oversight at board level and the creation of processes to encourage employees to voice any concerns via line managers or anonymously to a dedicated hotline 

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Kingspan supports a fair building safety levy that applies across the construction industry.

As regards remediation costs, where we bear responsibility for the inappropriate use of K15 in buildings, and its safe retention cannot be supported by testing, we maintain our public commitment to pay our share of remediation costs.  

To date we have received and responded to enquiries in relation to around 170 projects in which K15 may have been used.  Of the enquiries received, we are only aware of a small number where remediation works have been required.

Further information on testing and standards, including for the safe retention of our products on buildings, can be found here

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