Author Topic: Fire Safety - Park Homes / Model Standards  (Read 22659 times)

Offline nearlythere

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Fire Safety - Park Homes / Model Standards
« Reply #30 on: April 01, 2008, 01:42:51 PM »
Quote from: Midland Retty
Quote from: Big A
It is far more reasonable to move the caravans than to move/cut down the trees.
Whilst I dont disagree we are talking about an established site now where plots have been in place for over 18 years, convincing the residents to move their home for the sake of a tree would be difficult, and besides I think you have misunderstood my post.

Can I make it clear please that we are only talking about connifers which encroach into the 6m spacing allowed between caravans /park homes etc.

I do not suggest for one moment that a copse or wooded area that borders onto the park home site for example  should be cleared or removed, it is just the mainly ornamental connifers residents have planted in the gardens between homes which in some cases are now in excess of 14ft high and have grown in girth to the point where they actuall touch the park homes.

Posters please be aware at no time have I suggested the removal of trees in my original post i merely asked if certain types of trees or shrubs posed a hazard.

From the BRE reports, and your comments connifers are perhaps the most readily ignitable and the Model Standards themselves states that nothing combustible should be allowed in between park homes.
MR, can I respectfully ask as to what you would do if you considered a tree or shrub a hazard? Would one or two or three not be a tolerable hazard?
I know I am straying a little but would vehicles not be more of a hazard than vegetation? People like their cars next to their house.
We're not Brazil we're Northern Ireland.

Midland Retty

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Fire Safety - Park Homes / Model Standards
« Reply #31 on: April 01, 2008, 03:58:10 PM »
Quote from: nearlythere
Quote from: Midland Retty
Quote from: Big A
It is far more reasonable to move the caravans than to move/cut down the trees.
Whilst I dont disagree we are talking about an established site now where plots have been in place for over 18 years, convincing the residents to move their home for the sake of a tree would be difficult, and besides I think you have misunderstood my post.

Can I make it clear please that we are only talking about connifers which encroach into the 6m spacing allowed between caravans /park homes etc.

I do not suggest for one moment that a copse or wooded area that borders onto the park home site for example  should be cleared or removed, it is just the mainly ornamental connifers residents have planted in the gardens between homes which in some cases are now in excess of 14ft high and have grown in girth to the point where they actuall touch the park homes.

Posters please be aware at no time have I suggested the removal of trees in my original post i merely asked if certain types of trees or shrubs posed a hazard.

From the BRE reports, and your comments connifers are perhaps the most readily ignitable and the Model Standards themselves states that nothing combustible should be allowed in between park homes.
MR, can I respectfully ask as to what you would do if you considered a tree or shrub a hazard? Would one or two or three not be a tolerable hazard?
I know I am straying a little but would vehicles not be more of a hazard than vegetation? People like their cars next to their house.
Hi NT

Here's my logic:-

I was asked by a council officer and concerned residents whether trees posed a significant fire hazard. We scrutinised the Model Standards guidance for park homes which suggest they might be.

To try and establish why the model standards said this I posted this thread on firenet.

Firstly I looked at what type of trees or bushes can easily catch fire /aid fire spread / assist in rapid development etc if any.

BRE / experience / Firenet members tell me that connfiers are probably the most easily ignitable and combustible

Armed with that guidance Ill now look at the size, density of connifer in particular near the park homes

Strictly speaking according to the model standards no fire hazzard should exist within 6 metre sep zone between park homes, but common sense tells me that SOMETHING LIKE a small 1 foot high connifer wont cause a problem.

My intrest is in the larger, taller connfiers, or connifer hedges where there is a long length of them in one area.

Im not trying to be onourous, but the guidance is clear, research from BRE is clear, majority of members opinions on here are clear and Ive been asked a question by concerned residents and a council enforcement officer and I want to give them accurate advice as this might get legal.

The issue of cars is a seperate and I dont want to go into that at the moment, Ive enough going on with trees for now.  

I think Ive explained myself enough, could I ask anyone who wants to make comment to read all posts to understand what Ive been trying to find, and also read some of the links a lot of members have kindly sent me regarding this subject.

At the end of the day if those of you dont feel its important than thats fair enough im not here to change your mind. But I am trying to establish why the model standards points toward not wanting trees too close to caravans (it also refers to the BRE reports to back up that statement).

Thanks for everyone who has kindly contributed I wont be replying to any further posts on this matter now I think its run its course.

Offline kurnal

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Fire Safety - Park Homes / Model Standards
« Reply #32 on: April 02, 2008, 12:04:09 AM »
Quote from: Midland Retty
Armed with that guidance Ill now look at the size, density of connifer in particular near the park homes

Strictly speaking according to the model standards no fire hazzard should exist within 6 metre sep zone between park homes, but common sense tells me that SOMETHING LIKE a small 1 foot high connifer wont cause a problem.

My intrest is in the larger, taller connfiers, or connifer hedges where there is a long length of them in one area.
Are you interested in any research information on heat output from conifer fires? Otherwise your judgement on size or density will be rather subjective. Theres quite a lot of info on wildfires and research done in Australia and Western America into this I believe.

Clevelandfire

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Fire Safety - Park Homes / Model Standards
« Reply #33 on: April 02, 2008, 03:25:57 AM »
Poor Retty. Seems like everyone is taking the mick out of you for asking a simple question, but I think you are correct in looking into this subject further. Kurnal I think common sense will tell you that a large fir tree will give off sufficient heat to threaten a nearby park home if its close enough.You are ex ops and you will undoubtedly have tackled grass, scrubland fires and connifer rows in your time - theyre bloomin hot! I doubt theres a need to go too technical into the subject.

I agree fir trees need to be assessed if theyre within the 6 metre spacing to park homes. I have seen the damage they can do first hand (i talked about a fire I attended at a caravan park earlier on in this thread) Personally I feel that anyone who doesnt atleast consider the proximity of evergreens or large expanses of flammable foliage close enough to these types of structures isnt competent at undertaking fire risk assessments. Nearlythere's argument that trees are allowed in someones back garden of their house so whats the problem is a total non starter. Most houses are brick built for goodness sake and besides the Fire Authority cant enforce standards in single domestic dwellings can they.

Offline Dinnertime Dave

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Fire Safety - Park Homes / Model Standards
« Reply #34 on: April 07, 2008, 09:12:01 AM »

Midland Retty

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Fire Safety - Park Homes / Model Standards
« Reply #35 on: April 07, 2008, 01:51:58 PM »
Thanks for that Dinnertime Dave