Two reports into last summer’s devastating fire at the Beaufort Park development in Colindale, point to better precautions being needed in the construction of timber-frame housing developments. Both reports – by the London Fire Brigade and by the Fire Protection Association (FPA) – say that a discarded cigarette was the most likely cause of the fire, in which a six-storey timber frame residential block was destroyed in less 10 minutes. They also call for better planning and operation of construc
The main points of the London Fire Brigade report were that the rapid spread of fire was not due to an accelerant and was consistent with the fire load present, that is a high surface area compared to mass of timber with almost unrestricted airflow. Recommendations include more appropriate methods of sounding an alarm, a review of construction methods and systems to take into account fire spread by radiant heat, as well as direct burning, on such sites. It concluded that “timber framed structures are not low risk”, so travel distances and numbers of escape routes need to be re-evaluated for the construction phase of similar development.
The FPA report goes further and questions whether timber frame structures should be used for high rise buildings. It also raises the question whether sprinklers should be installed to reduce risk during occupation, and to the building of fire compartments during construction.
Brian Coleman, London Assembly member for Barnet & Camden and conservative leader in London’s fire authority, has called for an end to timber framed high rise buildings. “I have always had serious concerns about these type of developments and the rapid fire spread at Beaufort Park convinced me that there was a very major problem.”
Andrew Dismore, who was a legal representative to the FBU before he became an MP, added: “Can such huge timber framed buildings be safe from fire, and did the density of the plan – thousands of shoe-box flats, packed in, like tins on a supermarket shelf – contribute to the severity of the fire?
In response, a spokeswoman for the UK Timber Frame Association said: “The recommendations strongly reinforce the need for greater compliance by housebuilders and site contractors with CDM Regulations and other best practice guidance on good site security and good site management which already exists, including things like enforcing no smoking policies on building sites, and early plaster boarding of the timber frame.
“On larger multi-storey timber frame projects, the UKTFA is also recommending greater compartmentation with fire resistant sheeting, potential use of new timber treatments to reduce ignitability during the build phase, and also the use of independent third-party accreditation schemes which help housebuilders comply with their fire plans and provide additional inspections on site.”
