Dave Plowman wrote:

On Newsnight yeaterday, a Grenfell estate resident (but not a resident of
the tower) said that there were unprotected gas pipes running up the
stairwell. This was also mentioned earlier by residents. But not by any
pros I heard interviewed.

Yes, as early as the morning after the fire, "gas pipes" in stairwell
were being mentioned by residents.

Based on other comments, I thought initially they had gone over to
individual heating systems in each flat - hence the need for new gas
pipes. But it seems this is wrong - it had a new communal heating system.

That seemed to be the preferred scheme from several options, not seen
anything which said it was definitely the one chosen.

So why the need for new gas pipes to all the flats? Or are they in fact
not gas but water?

Could easily be mistaken.

Sadly, running any new services through a fire protected area might well
compromise that, if badly done.

Even if they were water pipes, and the work wasn't completed, then there
could be firestopping that was missed.