New Providence Wharf: building acted like ‘broken chimney’, fire brigade investigation finds

Since the blaze, the spotlight has fallen on the building’s smoke ventilation system after Inside Housing revealed that Ballymore admitted to residents that it had failed.

The LFB report found that corridor smoke detectors failed to trigger the building’s automatic opening vent (AOV) and shut communal area fire doors.

This left residents’ only escape route smoke-logged, with firefighters having to rescue 35 people, including 22 by using special fire escape hoods.

The LFB urged building owners – especially for blocks where a stay put strategy is no longer in place like at New Providence Wharf – to check fire safety measures, such as AOVs, “as a priority”.

AOVs are designed to extract smoke during a fire to help residents escape.

LFB investigators also found evidence that the fire was helped to spread from floors eight to 11 by timber decking on the balconies, having started in a fuse board in one of the flats.

In January last year, the government issued advice to building owners stating that balconies should not assist external fire spread and warning of potential risks to residents.

The LFB is asking building owners and managers to check the materials on external balconies and “if necessary modify them as soon as possible”.

An investigation by the LFB into possible fire safety regulations breaches at New Providence Wharf is ongoing.

Richard Mills, deputy commissioner at the LFB, said: “The smoke ventilation system inside New Providence Wharf acted like a broken chimney, leading to a potentially life-threatening situation.

“Had it not been for the exceptional actions of our firefighters and 999 control officers, this could have had tragic consequences.

“Despite our response to this fire and drawing on the many lessons learned from the Grenfell Tower fire, in many cases we are sadly still not seeing a culture change in all those responsible for fire safety in high-rise buildings.

“The New Providence Wharf fire needs to be an urgent wake-up call to all building owners and managers.

“Look at the fire safety solutions inside your building and take action if they are not performing correctly. It is too late to wait for a fire to see if they work.”

A spokesperson for Ballymore said: “Ballymore notes the preliminary report of the London Fire Brigade. We are grateful to the fire service for their prompt reaction to the incident on May 7 which ensured that all residents were safely evacuated in a timely fashion.

“The safety of our residents is everything to us. Since the fire of May 7, we have inspected the fire prevention, detection and mitigation systems in all of our properties to ensure all are in working order.

“We will work closely with the fire service, our professional and scientific advisers, and our residents to assist with the ongoing investigation.

“Façade remediation works are underway at the New Providence Wharf building, at no cost to leaseholders.”

A spokesperson for campaign group Tower Hamlets Justice for Leaseholders said: “We are appalled to learn of all of the fire safety defects and management failures detailed in the London Fire Brigade report today.

“As noted by the London Fire Brigade, residents were only minutes’ away from mass casualties at Ballymore’s New Providence Wharf on May 7th.”

Update: at 16.22pm 01/06/21

A comment from Ballymore was added to the story

Update: at 10.49am 02/06/21

A comment from THJL was added to the story