This may explain why the charges resulted:
http://www.lep.co.uk/news/landlord_denies_faulty_fire_alarm_caused_death_1_132394The inquest ALLEGED (AND NO EVIDENCE WAS OFFERED AT TRIAL) that the installation was poorly wired and suffered power supply faults, that it only had a single 100% service (BS says a minimum of 2 visits) and did not operate at the time of necessity.
It appears to be the common used configuration for a communal areas system of smoke to circulation areas and a heat in each flat - there is IMPLICATION that no Pt 6 smokes were in the flats.
FULL TEXT
Landlord denies faulty fire alarm caused death
Published on Wednesday 25 November 2009 16:32
The landlord of a Preston flat could face prosecution over a faulty alarm after a fire killed a pensioner.
Two companies responsible for the electrics and maintainence of the alarm could also be summoned to court by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and Preston Council, an inquest heard.
Former semi-professional cricketer Eric Baker, 91, died a day after the blaze at his flat in Bairstow Street, Avenham.
Neighbour Alex Alston broke into his flat to try to save him, but was forced back by the heat and flames.
The great-grandfather suffered 60% burns in the fire on July 11 and died at Whiston Hospital, in Merseyside. Preston Coroner's Court was told the alarm at the terraced house, which had been converted into bedsits, had not been wired correctly.
Watch manager Paul Dunn, an intelligence officer for the fire service, said: "The lack of power has been caused by a faulty connection within the distribution board in the basement.
"There was a loose connection which intermittently failed when it was connected."
No-one in the building was aware of the blaze until Mr Alston went to check he was OK.
And neighbour Elizabeth Belter told the hearing: "It (the fire alarm) did not work on this occasion. It did not sound."
Mr Dunn added: "If the fire alarm had been working a heat detector would have raised the alarm to other occupants. It might have alerted Eric and allowed him time to escape."
And station manager Mark Hutton said temperatures inside the flat would certainly have been hot enough to set off the heat detector and raise the alarm.
There were also no smoke detectors inside the flats, which are recommended as "best practice," the court heard.
But landlord Anthony Towey, who owned the property, said: "I tested the system on a roughly once a week basis.
"It was tested on an annual basis by a professional. It was absolutely fine."
Investigations into the cause of the fire revealed the most likely explanation was that a cigarette which had dropped under a coffee table started the blaze.
A man was also rescued unharmed from an upstairs flat.
Recording a narrative verdict, deputy coroner Simon Jones said: "Eric Baker died on July 12 of severe burns and smoke inhalation which he sustained as a result of a fire in his flat.
"The cause of the fire was, on the balance of probabilities, a cigarette discarded by Mr Baker.
"The fire alarm system which had been installed did not work."
