Checks On G Live Cladding Reveal Serious Flaws But ‘Safe To Operate’ Says GBC

Published on: 19 May, 2021
Updated on: 21 May, 2021

By Hugh Coakley

Investigative checks on the cladding at G Live have revealed serious faults but the venue “is safe to operate” says Guildford Borough Council. Covid vaccinations at the centre are unaffected.

Tiles are being removed from G-Live building to carry out repairs to the insulation and the fire breaks.

Council sources deny reports that the checks were connected to the Grenfell disaster in 2017.

Faults with the insulation under the cladding and areas where fire breaks had not been installed had been identified and were being fixed by the 10 staff on site (Wednesday, May 12).

The faults are said to be on the walls and the roof of the building. A source told The Guildford Dragon NEWS it was a 16-week programme but “it would be tight”.

Scaffolding has been erected around the building to enable the porcelain cladding tiles to be removed. The same tiles will be replaced once the insulation is re-installed and other remedial work is carried out.

The problems with the insulation were discovered during routine maintenance checks. Further investigation by Willmott Dixon, the original G Live contractor in 2011, revealed the issues with the fire breaks.

The faults were found in the walls and on the roof of the G-Live building.

In a statement to The Dragon on May 18, Cllr Joss Bigmore, leader of the council said: “To reassure our residents and visitors, we have been told by a building surveyor that G Live is safe to operate and Willmott Dixon is doing a detailed assessment in the next couple of days to decide what extra work is needed. This work will be funded by Willmott Dixon and is not linked to any of the issues which contributed to the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower.

“The work does not affect Coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine appointments at G Live.

At the time of publication, Willmott Dixon had not responded to our request for comment.