Grenfell Tower fire engineer did not look at cladding plans

Advice that works would not raise fire risk was given without reading document, inquiry told

The fire engineer on Grenfell Tower did not look at plans showing the building might be wrapped in aluminium cladding panels before advising the works would not increase the risk of fire spreading across the building.

Appearing at the public inquiry into the disaster that killed 72 people, Terry Ashton, a senior associate at fire engineer Exova, was asked if he created a false sense of security" in the design team after he admitted he did not look at plans emailed to him about overcladding the building in 2012 before giving his advice.