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Timber fires spark calls for sprinklers to be installed in all new residential blocks
Fire safety experts have called for the use of sprinklers in all new blocks of flats regardless of height, following a devastating fire that destroyed a timber-framed building in south-west London this week.
Experts from across the sector have said that the fire, which engulfed a Metropolitan Thames Valley block in Worcester Park, Sutton, demonstrates the need for sprinklers in residential blocks.
A total of 125 firefighters were called to the blaze that took hold of the 23-home Richmond House in the Hamptons development in the early hours of Monday.
It was the second high-profile blaze in a timber-framed building in the past month, after a fire destroyed a care home in Crewe in August.
Jane Duncan, chair of the Royal Institute of British Architects’ Expert Panel on Fire Safety, said the fire shows that sprinklers should be required in all new and converted buildings.
Jim Glockling, technical director at the Fire Protection Association, said fires in which buildings are completely lost may become the “new normal” because of the increased use of combustible building methods such as light timber frame.
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He said while Richmond House was ‘American-style’ aesthetically, a key difference between it and any US block was that law in the US would require it to have sprinklers.
He added that anyone wishing to protect their assets should either choose non-combustible materials or insist on the installation of “active protection such as sprinklers”.
Last week, the government proposed reducing the height threshold at which sprinklers are required in new blocks of flats from 30m to 18m.
Fire safety consultant Colin Todd said there is a “valid concern in relation to modern standards of construction”, which does not just relate to timber-framed buildings.
Given these concerns, Mr Todd said: “There would appear to be a compelling case to consider sprinkler protection of all new blocks of flats in England, regardless of height.”
Following the fire, Metropolitan Thames Valley said that it was putting in place arrangements to ensure residents felt safe and had installed a 24/7 waking watch in the 14 other buildings it owns at The Hamptons.
Local authority fire safety expert Jan Taranczuk said the fire should result in landlords checking which of their buildings have timber frames, checking what risk assessments had been done, and what steps could be taken to mitigate the risks.
However, he added: "We shouldn’t be running around saying timber-framed buildings are dangerous.”
A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said it expected every building owner to ensure their buildings are safe, but it would be inappropriate to comment while the investigation was ongoing.
Never Again campaign
Inside Housing has launched a campaign to improve fire safety following the Grenfell Tower fire
Never Again: campaign asks
Inside Housing is calling for immediate action to implement the learning from the Lakanal House fire, and a commitment to act – without delay – on learning from the Grenfell Tower tragedy as it becomes available.
LANDLORDS
- Take immediate action to check cladding and external panels on tower blocks and take prompt, appropriate action to remedy any problems
- Update risk assessments using an appropriate, qualified expert.
- Commit to renewing assessments annually and after major repair or cladding work is carried out
- Review and update evacuation policies and ‘stay put’ advice in light of risk assessments, and communicate clearly to residents
GOVERNMENT
- Provide urgent advice on the installation and upkeep of external insulation
- Update and clarify building regulations immediately – with a commitment to update if additional learning emerges at a later date from the Grenfell inquiry
- Fund the retrofitting of sprinkler systems in all tower blocks across the UK (except where there are specific structural reasons not to do so)
We will submit evidence from our research to the Grenfell public inquiry.
The inquiry should look at why opportunities to implement learning that could have prevented the fire were missed, in order to ensure similar opportunities are acted on in the future.
