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Hello and welcome to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry podcast with me, Kate Lamble.

This week, the inquiry heard from the last expert witness to examine the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower.

Paul Hyatt said it was possible that had cavity barriers been designed around the windows,

the fire could

have been put out before it spread to the cladding. We'll get to his evidence later, but I want

to start with something else. On Thursday, the inquiry began looking at a whole new topic.

Today we begin module two of this phase of the inquiry, in which we're going to investigate the way in which

products intended for use in the construction industry are manufactured, tested and sold,

and in particular the way in which the materials that were used on the cladding of Grenfell Tower

were presented to the market.

Now, I know it's slightly odd to start on a new topic before we completely wrap up the old one,

but the opening statements of module two, as is known, began with such a shocking range of allegations

that it only seems right to start here. Opening statements would normally be given

in person at the inquiry, but due to COVID-19 restrictions, this time all of the QCs appeared

via video link, which might explain the poor quality of some of the audio you're about to hear.

Stephanie Barwise is an expert in construction law. She represents a group of

bereaved survivors and residents. Perhaps the most sinister aspect of the events leading to the

product selection at Grenfell is the manner in which the manufacturer is well understood

the statutory regulation and guidance and sought to circumvent it by clever marketing.

Stephanie Barweis argued the manufacturers sought official classification certificates as mere marketing tools,

and they misled the organisations that issued them. She was clear that there were no valid fire tests

...