Tragically four fire fighters died in the recent Warwickshire warehouse blaze and last week a warehouse on the site of the Olympic Park needed over seventy five fire fighters to bring the fire under control. The Construction Centre today stated that it was imperative that Approved Document B of the Building Regulations should be fully reviewed in order to cater for both old and new buildings in terms of fire protection.
Although the causes of the fires in London and Warwickshire have yet to be determined, concerns over Appendix F have already been highlighted with reference to foam cored sandwich panels which can be used for roofing but which are extremely flammable and prone to collapse. The Fire Protection Agency has already consulted fire safety specialists to assess the loss prevention standards currently in place.
Chief Fire Officers’ Association president Steve McGuirk has been quick to highlight the need for sprinkler systems in all commercial buildings. Currently only warehouse buildings over 20,000 square feet have to install sprinkler systems. Mr Mc Guirk commented that the fire outbreaks which have occurred over the last two weeks “should be used to take stock of the effectiveness of the current regulations and to reassess the role of fire suppression systems in keeping buildings and people safe, including fire fighters.”
With the first Fire Summit being held in London today, these issues are likely to rise to the top of the agenda. The Construction Centre.co.uk was clear in it’s support for tighter regulations in order to protect both buildings and people. Managing Director and property developer Richard Simmons said “It is tragic that the loss of life is the catalyst for change in so many areas of the construction industry. In this case the onus is also on property owners to ensure that suitable fire protection measures are in place. It is not always about meeting the basic legal requirements but protecting both people and the building from the potential devastation we have seen recently.”
The Construction Centre today recommended a review into current building regulations in the hope that the scale of future fire disasters can be significantly reduced. The Construction Centre.co.uk has product and supplier details on all types of fire protection for small and large premises including, sprinkler systems, fire protection coatings, structural protection, electrical fire protection and more information can be found on the website.
www.theconstructioncentre.co.uk
