UK: The London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea council has alleged a conspiracy by Celotex (now a subsidiary of France-based Soprema), its former outright owner France-based Saint-Gobain, and others to fraudulently supply unsafe insulation for use in the council’s social housing projects. Celotex insulation was installed in the Grenfell tower block, where an ‘uncontrollable’ fire broke out, killing 72 people, in the early morning of 14 June 2017.
Counsel for the claimant said that companies failed to highlight the unsuitability of Celotex’s RS5000 polyisocyanurate (PIR) insulation for use in high-rise buildings’ façades, after failing to carry out ‘necessary and proper testing’ and supplying the product ‘based on a test the details of which were dishonestly concealed.’ Counsel further criticised Celotex’s defence submission as ‘too long,’ alleging that it made submissions ‘without discrimination as to whether it needed to do so for the purposes of proceedings.’
Counsel for Celotex and Saint-Gobain said “The allegations made against Celotex are complex, serious and are required to be properly pleaded.”
The hearing is due to conclude on 9 October 2025.
