Richmond House, Worcester Park
A four-storey block insulated with non-combustible mineral wool, confirmed by the post-fire investigation, with external cladding of limited combustibility — “on paper", the perfect envelope. Completely destroyed; approximately 60 people evacuated at the last moment. The fire spread through the timber battens in the cavity, behind the non-combustible cladding.
The mineral wool fire barriers — installed precisely to stop the flames — were defective and, according to the official report, “made no contribution" to slowing the fire. One resident described the spread as almost instantaneous.
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