What's gone wrong?

[Peter Wilkinson]

Why have there been so many fatal fire in Paris over the last two months?  

What do the French do differently in terms of controlling building design, managing fire safety and assessing risks etc.?

Not an easy question to answer, but, if we had an understanding of their approach to fire safety, then we could ensure we didn't make the same tragic mistakes.

Any ideas?

[wee brian]

There's a common link with all these fires (assuming the press reports are accurate)

Fire starts in stairway of single stair building, the stairs are rpobably timber.

The buildings are populated mostly by african imigrants.

Odds are that these fires aren't accidental.

[Paul]

I guess the hardest thing to safeguard against is that of arsonists with a purpose to destroy life.

Either the persons carrying out this sick fire setting are targetsing a particualr minority or they are targeting the vulnerable.

In all cases the premises have been served with only a single means of vertical escape.  The accomodation targeted has been occupied by far in excess of a safe occupancy loading, given the escape options etc, and I don't know but I guess the premises are all in a pretty sorry state, let alone have anything in the way of passive / active provisions, making it almost impossible for occupants to escape and fire crews trying to effect a rescue.

I have not even touched on the Characteristics  of the occupants, as again this will also play a huge role in how they respond in such conditions.

Targeting this typeof property is always going to have the same result.  loss of life!

Not sure what we can learn from this, only that particualr attention must be given to this type of accomodation by enforcing bodies.  I would like to think that these factors would not be allowed to occur in this country, but then again never say never!!

P