The results of tests carried out on the cladding of four low-rise council blocks are expected to be known within a fortnight.
In light of the Grenfell Tower fire in north Kensington, Southwark Council carried out thorough checks of its 174 tower blocks, which found that none had combustible cladding.
However, the council identified some cladding in four of its lower-rise blocks which it decided to investigate.
The results of the tests are expected to be known within the next two weeks, the News understands.
In the meantime, the council has written to residents to reassure them that their buildings fully comply with current building regulations and that the checks are being carried out as a precaution.
Cllr Stephanie Cryan, Southwark’s cabinet member for housing, said: “I have written to residents to reassure them that we have carried out thorough checks of our 174 tower blocks and none of them have combustible cladding.
“I have also instructed officers to carry out a full review of our fire safety strategy, including a new look at our sprinkler policy in light of the awful tragedy at Grenfell Tower.”
A total of 79 people are feared dead after a blaze destroyed 151 homes in the Grenfell Tower block and nearby.
Police have said the fire started in a fridge-freezer – and that outside cladding and insulation failed safety tests.
“We now have expert evidence that the fire was not started deliberately – the fire started in a fridge freezer – the make and model is a Hotpoint FF175BP,” Detective Superintendent Fiona McCormack said today, Friday.
“We are working with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy who are talking to the manufacturer of the fridge freezer.
“But we do know that that this model has not been subject to any product recall.
“Preliminary tests show the insulation samples collected from Grenfell Tower combusted soon after the test started.
“The initial tests on equivalent aluminium composite tiles failed the safety tests.
“We will seek to understand what happened to each and every person who died in that fire.”
A public meeting has been organised to address residents’ concerns about fire safety in Southwark following the Grenfell Tower blaze.
The council is working with colleagues in the fire service to hold a series of meetings.
The first of these will take place at 7pm on Monday, June 26, at the Old Kent Road fire station, 405 Old Kent Road.
All are welcome but arrive early to secure a place.
A second meeting is being planned for a later date and the details will be released as soon as they are confirmed.
Any council tenants with the fridge freezer model Hotpoint Fridge Freezer FF175BP which was implicated in the Grenfell Tower fire are advised to email the council at firesafetyconcerns@southwark.gov.uk
The council will work with residents in their blocks to test the fridge and discuss the next steps.