Grenfell Tower: ‘Substantial risk’ posed by fire safety at eight blocks of flats across UK

Some buildings were found to have no fire doors and faulty smoke alarms

Cladding fitted to Grenfell Tower raised serious questions surrounding fire safety provisions in the wake of the tragedy (Paul Jacobs/pictureexclusive.com)

At least eight tower blocks have been found to pose a "substantial risk" to the lives of tenants, it has emerged, as fire safety provisions face growing public scrutiny in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

A catalogue of failings were identified at the towers located across the UK between 2012 and 2017, including no fire doors and faulty smoke alarms.

Hundreds of other high-rise blocks were also found to have major safety flaws, according to analysis of fire risk assessments by Inside Housing magazine.

Two of the buildings, which were judged at risk in 2012, sit just metres away from Great Ormond Street children's hospital.

It comes after "flammable" cladding fitted to Grenfell Tower raised serious questions surrounding fire safety provisions in the wake of the tragedy.

It was widely speculated materials fitted to the building during a 2016 refurbishment aided the rapid and "unprecedented" spread of the blaze that claimed at least 80 lives.

The disaster has renewed public focus on the state of Britain's social housing and whether building regulations are stringent enough to guarantee the safety of high rise tenants.

In January, Sturminster House in Southampton was found to be blighted by poor escape lighting, trip hazards in escape routes and a lack of smoke seals on some fire doors.

Southampton Council, which owns the building, said the risk assessment was "a snapshot of the risks that were present at the time" and "the most pressing issues were addressed immediately".

In 2012, risk assessors found that smokers living at Babington Court and Chancellors Court in Camden, north London, had been stubbing cigarettes out on flammable uPVC windows.

The probe, carried out by engineering firm, Hoare Lea, also uncovered non-fire resistant doors and vandalised smoke alarms and vents.

The two 14-storey towers contain 112 flats and are situated adjacent to the renowned children's hospital.

A spokesperson for Camden Council said problems had since been addressed and the buildings were given a normal rating in June.

The other towers found to pose a serious risk to the safety of tenants were Mount Court and Bishops Court in Guildford, Boyswell House in Wigan, Ratcliffe Towers in Stockport and Queensway House in Hatfield.

It comes as the Government announced an independent review of building regulations last week, which fire safety experts said was “long overdue”.

More than 100 buildings also failed combustibility testing ordered by a Government fire safety panel in the wake of the blaze.

Additional reporting by Press Association