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INTRODUCTION
Buildings over 18m in height present numerous challenges when it comes to fire safety. The most obvious difference in comparison to low-rise buildings is the time needed to escape from the top of the building, especially as lifts and escalators are usually no-go in the event of a fire. This is of particular concern in office blocks, where the number of floors can reach triple figures and large groups of people will be attempting to descend multiple flights of stairs at the same time. This not only presents problems in terms of the speed of evacuation, it can also put those with mobility issues at an increased risk.
Other fire-safety issues that must be addressed on multistorey structures include the provision of access for fire fighters (who must work within the structure because ladders cannot be used at height), and the proximity of other buildings.
Fire can spread through an external cladding system via the cavities or through the cladding material itself. The source of ignition may be flames issuing from windows or other openings due to a fire within the building, or there may be an external fire source – for example, fire radiation from another building or from a source immediately next to the cladding, such as refuse set alight by arson.
Flames constrained within cavities can extend five to 10 times their original length regardless of the materials present. If fires are allowed to develop, they may flash over and break out through windows. They may then spread up, over or through the cladding – flames can extend more than 2m above window openings, regardless of cladding materials. If the flames are able to re-enter the building, secondary fires can then develop.
KEY STANDARDS
First published in 1988, BR 135: Fire Performance of external thermal insulation for walls of multistorey buildings responded to the increasing use of thermal insulation within refurbishment programmes on multistorey residential tower blocks. When the document was produced, there was not yet any full-scale fire test available. Recommendations were therefore based on a single-faced large-scale test facility.
However, during the review of BR 135, a number of high-profile fires occurred that led to a review of the test methodology. Coupled with the growth of new design solutions, this suggested that a full-scale fire-test method was necessary to fully understand the overall fire performance of the complete system. As a result, the then Department of the Environment worked with industry to develop one test method, which was published in 1999.
The review process resulted in the publication of the second edition of BR 135 in 2003. This was accompanied by the full-scale fire test method from BRE Fire Note 9, named BS 8414-1: Fire Performance Of External Cladding Systems – Part 1 Test Method for Non-Loadbearing External Cladding Systems Applied to the Face of the Building. This test methodology enables the overall fire performance of the system and its relevant components to be assessed in as close to typical end-use conditions as possible.
Part 1 is applicable to systems fixed to a solid substrate. A Part 2 was introduced in 2013 for systems fixed to and supported by structural steel framework. As masonry substrate and structural steel frames react differently in fire situations, it is important to ensure the relevant test is used.
Under the BS 8414 test series, the sample is fixed to the test rig at a minimum height of 6m above the combustion chamber. Cavity barriers should be included and fitted in accordance with Section 9 of Approved Document B, volume 2. The main face of the rig must be at least 2.8m wide, with a 1.5m-wide wing, and the depth must be no greater than 200mm.
The test is run for 60 minutes and the duration of the fire load is 30 minutes. The start time, ts, for fire spread occurs when the temperature of any external thermal couple at level 1 (2.5m above the top of the combustion chamber) equals or exceeds a 200°C temperature rise above the start temperature, Ts, and remains above this value for at least 30 seconds. Damage is recorded in the following areas:
flame spread on surface
flame spread in cavities or insulation
area of facade damaged or detached.

It does not matter what,it could have been a faulty tumble dryer which a recall and warning not to use them issued by a major manufacturer but that cause is irrelevant in this case,the fire should not have spread like a wild fire ,there was something terribly wrong with the cladding.

See that the 1st casualty has been hung out to dry CEO of Council forced to resign under pressure exerted by government minister,think it is the start of a cover up.Blame is going to be laid at his door.Government claiming they had nothing to do with resignation,do not believe a word that is uttered by this Tory government.

along with Planning dept that authorised it's use...