The June 2025 release of Grenfell: Uncovered on Netflix has reignited global conversations about fire safety in high-rise buildings. The documentary investigates the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire in London, which tragically claimed 72 lives. It reveals a chain of systemic failures: regulatory complacency, substandard materials, and a disregard for basic safety protocols that allowed a small kitchen fire to escalate into one of the UK’s worst residential disasters.
At The Arc Agency, we are reminded of our critical role in connecting architects and designers with suppliers who prioritise safety and compliance. The Grenfell tragedy underscores the dire consequences of neglecting these priorities.
A Facade That Fuelled Disaster
What turned a small kitchen fire into a 24-storey inferno in under 30 minutes? The external wall system. Investigations confirmed that the aluminium composite panels with a polyethylene core were highly flammable. These materials—widely used across the world at the time—were chosen in part for cost efficiency and visual appeal. But they didn’t meet adequate fire safety standards for high-rise residential buildings.
The consequences of that choice were fatal. As Grenfell: Uncovered reveals through first-hand accounts, the speed and intensity of the fire left residents with little chance to escape. Survivors like Marcio Gomes and his daughter Luana recount their harrowing experience fleeing from the 21st floor, while firefighters David Badillo and Chris Batcheldor describe the chaos and heartbreak of the rescue efforts. Their stories, alongside those of bereaved families and fire safety experts, put faces to the failure—and urgency behind ensuring that no such materials are ever specified again.
The Dangers of Non-Compliant Cladding
Investigations into the Grenfell fire revealed that the building's exterior was clad with aluminum composite material (ACM) panels filled with highly flammable polyethylene. This choice, combined with inadequate fire barriers and insulation, allowed the fire to spread rapidly up the building's facade.
The disaster highlighted the importance of selecting cladding materials that meet stringent fire safety standards. In response, the UK government banned the use of combustible materials in the external walls of new residential buildings over 18 meters tall in 2018, mandating that all materials meet A1 or A2 fire safety standards.
Photo: Shutterstock
An Ongoing Global Conversation
Since Grenfell, many countries, including Australia, have re-evaluated their codes and materials. Locally, the focus has turned sharply toward building façade materials and the need to meet rigorous fire performance requirements. Cladding audits, new legislation, and product bans have followed.
But compliance isn’t just about ticking a box—it’s about understanding what lies beneath the surface. Knowing how materials perform under extreme conditions, how they’re installed, and whether they’ve been tested to relevant standards is now a fundamental part of responsible design and specification.
For the Specifier: The Weight of a Decision
Specifiers aren’t just selecting finishes—they're safeguarding lives. Every product selected should be questioned:
Is it compliant?
Has it passed relevant fire tests?
Can the supplier back this up with documentation?
The Grenfell disaster proved what happens when these questions aren't asked. The new expectation is non-negotiable: materials must meet code, and suppliers must prove it.
72 Lives Not Forgotten
The Grenfell Tower fire claimed 72 lives — a devastating loss that remains etched into the collective memory of a community, a city, and an industry. They aren't just a statistic, each life lost underscores the critical importance of accountability, compliance, and education when it comes to specifying building materials — especially facades.
Grenfell Uncovered: Bernie Bernard and Jackie Leger. Photograph: Netflix
Rebuilding Trust Through Better Decisions
The ripple effect of Grenfell has changed the facade industry globally. In Australia, this has led to more stringent assessments, product bans, and greater education. Grenfell: Uncovered is a hard watch—but an essential one. It makes one thing clear: the specification stage is not just technical; it is moral.
At The Arc Agency, we know that specifiers need more than product brochures—they need knowledge. Our partner, , delivers CPD sessions covering:
- Fire-safe facade design
- Compliance with AS 5113 fire testing standards
- Sustainable and compliant material selection
These aren’t just checklists. They’re tools to prevent the next Grenfell.
While we can't undo the past, we can learn from it. That learning starts with awareness, accountability, and the commitment to make safety part of every project conversation.
Grenfell: Uncovered is now streaming on Netflix. Watch it. Talk about it. Use it to drive better and safer design.
Because real change starts before the first brick is laid.
