There is insufficient evidence that a Hotpoint fridge-freezer caused the Grenfell Tower fire that killed 71 people, according to official reports.
However, experts have said they are confident that the deadly blaze started in the kitchen of flat 16 on level floor of the tower block.
Man jumps out of car moments before it falls over 'Dracula' castle cliff
The reports were made public at the opening of a judge-led inquiry about the fire, which began on Monday morning.
It will put the cause of the blaze, the response of local authorities and high rise building regulations under the microscope.
The inquiry, which is expected to last about 18 months, is aimed at preventing future tragedies by recognising how the disaster happened.
Dr Barbara Lane, an expert commissioned by the inquiry to analyse the blaze, said the Reynobond 55PE rainscreen cladding contributed to the most rapid of the external fire spread.
Advertisement
Advertisement
She also wrote that the cavities that should have prevented flames spreading between floors were installed incorrectly on both horizontal and vertical levels.
Student ordered takeaway just to get delivery driver to remove spider
Meanwhile, no evidence was found that some of the key bodies involved in the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower understood how the new cladding system would behave in a fire.
Dr Lane said: I have found no evidence yet that any member of the design team or the construction ascertained the fire performance of the rainscreen cladding system materials, nor understood how the assembly performed in fire.
I have found no evidence that Building Control were either informed or understood how the assembly would perform in a fire.
Further I have found no evidence that the (Tenant Management Organisation) risk assessment recorded the fire performance of the rainscreen cladding system, nor have I found evidence that the LFB risk assessment recorded the fire performance of the rainscreen cladding.
The buildings cladding was such a risk of aiding the spread of flames that the fire brigades stay put advice was not supported, the report said.
Toddler, 2, drank drain cleaner in a shop and now he'll never be able to speak
In his opening remarks, Richard Millett QC, counsel to the inquiry, said: The fundamental question which lies at the heart of our work is how, in London in 2017, a domestic fire developed so quickly and so catastrophically that an entire high rise block was engulfed, and how it was that 71 people lost their lives in a matter of hours, leaving family and friends in shock, grief and bewilderment.
Mr Millett said the probe was the largest public inquiry ever established in terms of numbers of participants – including 533 people and 29 organisations.
He said the inquiry must proceed quickly in light of the obvious risk to public safety posed by exterior fires on residential tower blocks.
Police say they are considering individual or corporate manslaughter charges in the blaze, but no one has yet been charged.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Grenfell United, a group representing survivors and bereaved families, said the inquiry was the beginning of a long road to justice.
More: UK
The group, which accuses local authorities and the government of failing to heed safety warnings, said: The scale of the tragedy has devastated our lives and our community.
What makes it even worse for us is the knowledge that these deaths were completely avoidable.
Advertisement
Advertisement
[contf]
[contfnew]
METRO
[contfnewc]
[contfnewc]