Following Grenfell Disaster, UK Stadiums Check Fire Safety

Stadiums in the United Kingdom’s Premier League and Football League are being checked for a flammable cladding in the wake of a disaster that left more than 80 people dead.

The Sports Grounds Safety Authority will reportedly reach out to every local authority to ensure that stadiums are free of the potentially dangerous cladding. All 92 stadiums in the Premier League and Football League will be checked, in addition to Wembley Stadium, the Principality Stadium and stadiums built for cricket and rugby.

Officials are checking for exterior cladding that was used in Grenfell Tower, a public housing building that was engulfed in a blaze in the early hours of June 14. The fire burned for 60 hours, and resulted in at least 80 deaths.

According to the BBC, original plans called for a zinc cladding with a fire-retardant core. Those plans were scrapped, and the building was ultimately fitted with aluminum cladding at a cost savings of nearly £300,000. However, that cladding has since failed safety tests.

“We are aware of what happened at Grenfell Tower and we are following developments,” Ken Scott, chief inspector with the Sports Grounds Safety Authority told Sky Sports. “Lots of football grounds have used cladding.”

The added precaution provides an added level of scrutiny to stadium safety.

“Venues attract a high level of supervision,” Scott added. “They feature significant active and passive fire prevention systems including smoke alarms and fire extinguishers — but there cannot be complacency.”