Housing Management Estates Action HMEA
Housing Management Estates Action (HMEA) was a program, run by the Department of the Environment, aimed to improve the appearance and energy efficiency of high-rise buildings, and to tackle damp issues.Knowsley Heights was one of the buildings where an ACM cladding system was tested as part of the HMEA project.
A fire of the rubbish in an external storage was started deliberately, at the building's base, it spread rapidly through GRP cladding, and lack of fire barriers within the cavity between the cladding and the building's walls. The fire rapidly engulfed the north side but no fatalities occurred.
According to the BBC, the fire at Knowsley Heights involved cladding panels made by Arconic, the same company that manufactured the cladding used on Grenfell Tower. The refurbishment was funding by a government pilot scheme for cladding Housing Management Estates Action and the Building Research Establishment (BRE) had previously assessed the cladding and concluded that it did not pose a significant risk unless there were large cavities that could aid fire spread.
Featured articles
Check out some of the best features and news from Designing Buildings as well as key stories from around the web.
Where performance meets practice
The Building Envelope Stage at UKCW Birmingham.
CIAT publishes briefing on planning reforms.
Leaders in Learning for Practice Network
Call for conservation leaders in learning to register interest in new network.
The importance of early engagement
Construction lessons from the Trillium HealthWorks Experience Centre.
Mayors are to be given planning call in powers
Mayors across England will be able to make the most important planning decisions.
The Master Builder: William Butterfield and his times. Book review.
Why construction can't afford to ignore the skills gap.
Building Safety Regulator, 19 August
Gill Kernick appointed Independent Chair of Residents’ Panel.
Connecting knowledge, technology and conservation
Building competence for the future of built heritage.
Building Regulations and Building Safety Act
CIOB publishes free advice for non-domestic clients.
Building Safety Newsletter from MHCLG.
An extraordinary record of steel engineering worldwide.