Author: Trainee Surveyor  Date: 11/12/2007

Playing with fire

 

 

A fire in Cornwall

 

 

Just recently a headline read:

 

 

“A man has died, and five people have been injured and six others are missing after a fire at a Cornwall hotel caused part of the building to collapse”.

 

 

A writer for The Times wrote:

 

 

“It would be interesting to know what standard of fire separation existed on both the lift shaft and the escape staircases”.

 

 

An unusual fire or blaze swept a hotel in Panhallow Newquay. Many of the injured were tourists and holiday makers.. The hotel had two higher storeys which have recently been demolished currently with the facade. More than 80 people managed to escape the building at the time and the speed the fire spread with was frightening. A gentleman at the scene mentioned “We just saw the roof was well alight and 10 minutes later the lobby was ablaze” It is clear to see nothing could be done at the scene of the fire. However the fire service after was carrying out a risk assessment. To our knowledge a fire test was passed in 2006 and smoke detectors were checked two weeks ago.

 

 

The main points to note on this fire is the sheer speed at which it spreads, life’s that can be taken and the need to assess risks, the subject of our debate.

 

 

Fire Risk Assessors

 

 

At first associated we have carried out surveys on properties and incorporated fire safety concerns. There are specialist companies that carry out risk assessments in great detail however I was unable to contact them to ask about their services for purposes of this article.

 

 

I am an assistant surveyor at 1^st associated, recently I have worked on a few commercial surveys and the issue of fire regulations has enlightened me. This is both for commercial and residential properties. In commercial surveys such as that for a warehouse unit in Leamington I came to see that the unit was not compliant with fire regulations. The fire alarm system needed re – wiring. This was similar to a multi storey Georgian building consisting of flats in Clap ham. The fire extinguishers were close to the ground and not at the correct height. At a bar in Ealing Common we noticed fire exits were blocked and that the fire alarm system was malfunctioning. At various residential houses we have spotted various fire safety doors and staircases, at these surveys we usually highlight what has to be done to encompass more safety and an estimate of cost. If our recommendations are not followed we cannot guarantee what may happen.

 

Safety in hotels

 

 

Amar from Somerset shares his views on a recent hotel stay. He Spent the weekend at a hotel in the U.K and shared his views. He checked into the supposedly up market 'Cedar Falls' in Somerset . Rather disappointingly my room was a tiny box room with a childlike bed,.To add to this the room was freezing. I ask for my room to be heated, and was told a heater would be put into my room.

I returned to the room simply to check that heating was in place. An electric convector heater had been placed in my room, this had no details on how to use the device or safety information. Given the small size of the room it was difficult to find enough space in order to place it safely. I turned the heater on in the hope of warming my room for my return after supper. Fortunately, I visited the bathroom before leaving the room.  I walked out into the room to be met by the strong smell of electrical burning and a room opaque with smoke. The fire alarm did not sound and the hotel bearly apologised

 

 

Another person who experienced the rescue at Newquay mentioned about the lack of resources,

 

 

Cornwall County Fire Brigade's deputy chief fire officer Ted Simpson said of the fire "It was very well developed even before the fire brigade arrived." Constant cuts to the service may have led to the long wait for the service to arrive in force. No aerial ladders were available locally. 24 hour watches have been crucially removed leading to loss of life.

 

 

Did anyone think of the resources that would be needed one day?

 

It would have seems these are examples of where fire safety has been overlooked.

 

Who can answer for fire safety

 

 

Before regulations came into place a lot of fire regulations being checked were the responsibility of local councils and still are.

 

The surveyor could have taken the form of one from the Building control department of the local council or an Independent structural surveyor. They exist in the council and departments are in varying sizes and even quality. In London for example, Camden Borough surveyors are very well recognised, in an affluent area like Kensington or Islington we usually expect this because of nature of the area.

 

 

They could also advise on alternatives to work of possible delays and costs. What is more relevant to the recent blaze is that they can advise on potentially dangerous buildings. If they are dangerous they can inspect and help approve a demolition.

 

From this it is fair to deduce that in some cases the council is not consulted on health and safety. Issues such as fire and hazardous things are overlooked. Or if they are inspected standards are not adhered to.

 

If a member of building control is not consulted you can use a structural surveyor or should you appoint someone in the firm to take care of this?

 

In our history more fires have hit buildings and caused chaos a system of fire prevention or assessment has always been important.

 

I recently read into the history of fire and prevention for the purposes of my article. What it really showed me is the consequences of not making a fire risk assessment and consulting the relevant people

 

All roads or fires lead to Rome BC!

 

By 24 BC the Romans were in control of England and used night watchmen who would raise alarms make ways for escape and fight fire. The basic principles were in place. Probably around 1200-1600 London was taught its really first lesson about fire. The first great fire around 1212 was preceded by the biggest in 1600 which was started in Baker Street. Building control over material and construction came about the time of the first great fire. The fire of 1600 left 200,000 people homeless, this was a real epidemic.

 

Fire Engines Insurances

 

 

Fire engines started to be used, with manual pumps by 1721. After the great fire it was necessary to be insured against fire. Buildings would have a stamp outside to notify of this and if you didn’t you would be left to burn!

 

A lot of fires were in the hands of churches after 1600.

 

 

 

Insurance Fire Brigades

 

 

Even during this time it was important to assess if you would be prone to fire and what people would do is insure themselves. Plaques fixed to buildings to show the insurance fire brigades you are insured. The consequence would be that you would be left to burn if not insured.

 

 

 

For this reason by 1791, Insurance companies started to be introduced who could handle claims.

 

 

Victorian Fire Safety

 

 

In the 1800’s fire safety spread to Scotland, and in 1863 fire extinguishers were patented. Fire brigades were formed in line with greater communications (new phone) invented in 1900.

 

 

 

Pre and Post War Years

 

 

Britain started to become more commercialized and the importance of fire safety spread to assessing businesses in 1941 when rotas were introduced. The national fire service was introduced in 1941 and it was clear aid was needed during the bombings. National control was disbanded and brought to local control. It seems that at this time communities were uniting together in the war effort.

 

 

 By the 1960’s more regulation was given after a fire in a factory. This was when the fire authority was given responsibility over certifying a means of escape. This was the first form of risk assessment being put into stage, in recent times fires have continued to cause tragedy the Hampton court fire of 1986 and Kings Cross of 2004 spring to mind. After 1961 fire exits and escapes were given safety measures. Fire alarms were made compulsory in stores after a fire occurred in a department store called Henderson’s. This was enforced by the office shops and factory premises act.  All alarms are now required to be tested. Fires can also be caused by furniture therefore we now have a requirement for all furniture before 1988 to be assessed. The Woolworth’s fire of 1979 mean that all upholstered furniture should be checked for safety in commercial.

 

 

The interesting fact I that building surveyors are trained on history of cities and acts or reforms. We are taught property law and therefore have knowledge of why certain acts were passed, to be able to understand the history of fires helps first associated.co.uk assess risk for you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fire regulations in new builds.

 

 

Important safety has emerged in homes too. Since the construction of more and more new builds, Project Managers are required to fit all houses with smoke alarms on all floors.  At first associated in multi tenanted buildings we especially advise on this. For example recently we surveyed a property in Clara. And found for a series of multi leasehold flats that were tenanted , fire extinguishers were placed wrong and wiring for alarms was inadequate. HMO properties are multi tenanted and we advise owners to be more stringent over safety.

 

 

 

A

ll firms and businesses are regulated now by legislation to take adequate fire risks. This is the good news for us.

 

The regulatory reform (Fire Safety Order 2005)

 

This reform covers fire prevention in non residential properties such as hotels. This is not a new law it is actually a reform of old laws, so the legislation has always been present.  This reform has reduced the burdens of local authorities dealing with fire prevention in businesses and made it easier for businesses too. It has eliminated the overlapping of earlier reforms and therefore works for authorities dealing with this. Under these reforms the risk assessment of a workplace should be given to a ‘responsible person’. Before the law required safety certificates to be issued.

 

A responsible person under the law would take anyone who has control or ownership of the building.  The responsible must make the property or building safe for employees and anyone else in the building. Precautions taken would include making fire escapes to standard, having things in place to fight the fire, evacuation of the disabled etc.

 

The reform also requires that a risk assessment is induced. This involves making the premises safe for under 18’s, the disabled, elimating the effect of dangerous substances, emergency exits, routes, fire fighting and detection. In order to abide by his her responsibilities the person responsible will appoint someone to help him /her.

 

Enforcement of regulations can be strict and subject to punishment. A maximum 2 years imprisonment can be given if you don’t adhere to rules. Responsible people appointed could be health and safety executives, fireman, building control or health and safety executives.

 

The main amendments to the legislation have been as mentioned over precautions, certificates issued.

 

No regulation concerning sprinklers

 

Just a small point as we draw to a close; however the truth is probably the most suitable solution is not available to solve our concerns. Sprinkler systems are probably the most reliable methods of solution to a fire. These would drastically increase the chances of someone surviving in a fire. One of the problems is the speed at which fires spread. Property damage in a sprinkled property is one tenth of a non sprinkled property. There has been no recorded death of someone in a fire with a fire sprinkler system present. Amazing but there is no legislation entailing we have this. A lot is probably due to the fact of the sheer expense a system supplied and fitted could cost a business up to 1500 pounds.

 

 

In summary

 

 

We can say that Fire precautions and Health and Safety Regulations need to be adhered to with any construction in the U.K. In order to be able to do this we need a responsible person who can advise and enforce regulations. We would like a responsible person appointed in your company to contact us so that we can advise on any measures that would benefit your company.

 

 

It seems that the reforms have made it easier for businesses to pass regulations and the role of the local authorities has been reduced. This could result in complacency. We spoke to a Fire Safety risk company for this report who did mention all this beauracratic measures and the reducing of burden on businesses has meant unfortunately because of pressures and deadlines regulations are overlooked. History has shown us the consequences and the need for tighter measures which we now have.

 

 

One thing is for certain punishments are severe. I was recently at a survey in Leamington Spa for an Industrial Unit. The sale of the unit was becoming lengthy as the freeholder was unable to get the unit into the right condition for the new owner because of problems claiming from old tenants. One of the measures complained about were fire and health and safety. Wires were loose on a fire system and escape routes and exits were questioned. If standards were not met and someone was electrocuted on site, the freeholder could face punishment for not keeping the unit safe. Who would want that?

 

 

 

 

Bibliography

 

BBC news

 

Cornwall County Council

 

www.edenproject.co.uk

 

The times