A former staff member at Grenfell Tower refurbishment architect Studio E has said client-side “cost pressures” prompted the practice to include aluminium composite material rainscreen cladding on the list of options for the building’s renovation, even though zinc was its preferred choice.

Czech-trained architect Tomas Rek told yesterday’s Grenfell Inquiry hearing that he worked on the tower-block refurbishment project for around four months in 2013 and had attended a particular meeting where cladding had been discussed with specialist contractor Harley Facades.

Rek’s written evidence to the inquiry – probing the systemic failings that preceded the 2017 fire that claimed 72 lives – said a September 2013 meeting with two Harley staff had covered “appearance and price” of cladding proposals for the tower, but that he could not remember fire performance ratings of different panel options being a topic.

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