More than 180 high-rise towers have now failed cladding fire safety test, it has been revealed.

Tests are being carried out across some 600 buildings in 51 local authority regions in England following the Grenfell Tower fire in West London.

At least 80 people are thought to have died in the blaze in Kensington on Wednesday, 14 June.

The Department for Communities has now revealed cladding from 181 buildings has failed fire combustibility tests.

In response to the Grenfell Tower fire, the Government has established an Expert Advisory Panel which will provide independent advice to the Secretary of State on any immediate measures that may need to be put in place to make buildings safe for residents.

Chaired by Sir Ken Knight, the other core members of the Panel are Dr Peter Bonfield, Chief Executive of the Building Research Establishment; Amanda Clack, President of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and a Partner at EY; Roy Wilsher, Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council.

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It's aims include;

• Focus on providing advice relating to fire and building safety, and in particular how to ensure the public are safe in high rise buildings

• Consider whether there are any immediate additional actions that should be taken to ensure the safety of existing high rise buildings

• Consider whether there are any changes or clarifications required to existing regulations, and provide advice on possible changes, including making recommendations on the use of specific materials

• Consider whether the current processes for checking building safety are fit for purpose, and whether any changes are required

In a statement, the Panel said: "The tests that are currently being conducted are a screening test to identify which Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) panels are of concern. It tests the filler – the core of the panel – to check if it is of limited combustibility (category 1) or not (category 2 or 3). This is in line with the requirement of the Building Regulations guidance. The filler is one element of the overall cladding system.

"If the panel core fails the test we would expect the landlord to take the recommended interim fire safety measures issued on 22 June 2017.

"The Panel will engage with experts across the country to consider whether these panels can be used safely as part of a wider building external wall system, and therefore could remain on a building under certain approved circumstances.

"If, in the meantime, the responsible person for the building chooses to take down and replace cladding, care should be taken to consider the impact that removal may have on the other wall elements, especially insulation, and therefore on the overall fire integrity of the building as well as other Building Regulation requirements.

"The advice of a competent professional who specialises in the fire performance of cladding assemblies should be sought to assist in these considerations."

(LM)