Grenfell Tower

[lyledunn]

Why in heavens name would you want to close this thread down! If you want to show respect get answers rather than hiding under your eiderdown! Speculation is a natural part of a tragedy like this. What must people think when they see  the outside of a building on fire, spreading rapidly to engulf the whole building and hear fire safety professionals hedge their bets on cause. If it wasn't the material in the composite panels used in the rain screen then the whole building was doused in petrol!

[bevfs]

the facts will be available albeit drip fed ,and after all this is a forum? so I agree this should be open for discussion/speculation after this terrible disaster .Answers need to be given ASAP, after all there are people living in similar clad buildings up and down the country, and worldwide.

[Dinnertime Dave]

The response from the fire service and council is not to speculate.

The housing association I work for has been inandated with private sector housing officers making appointments to inspect our 3-5 storey properties. The first question asked is do they have cladding.

[Owain]

Reports of another block of flats with "solar panels and cladding" on fire
http://www.croydonadvertiser.co.uk/block-of-flats-damaged-in-fire-in-thornton-heath/story-30392245-detail/story.html

Fire under control in 10 mins and no casualties, but concerns again about alarms

http://www.croydonadvertiser.co.uk/thornton-heath-flats-owner-says-it-is-too-soon-to-answer-reports-residents-didn-t-hear-fire-alarm/story-30392866-detail/story.html

[Tadees]

A lot of talk about retrofitting of sprinkler systems following the tragic happenings at Grenfell. Grenfell aside, what's the general feeling about the practicality and proportionality of retrofitting sprinkler systems in existing tower blocks?

[Tom Sutton]

It appears, at Grenfell Tower, it was an external fire spread, then breaking into each floor in turn, if it was, the a sprinkler system would soon be render useless. I am not aware of any situations where there has been a major loss of life, where the fire spread was internal, where sprinklers would be effective. However if the origin of fire was confined to one occupancy it would be effective saving individual lives.

[Tadees]

Tom -

I am not aware of any situations where there has been a major loss of life, where the fire spread was internal, where sprinklers would be effective.

Did you mean "external?"

[Tom Sutton]

Yes Tadees silly mistake, but what I did not consider was if the fire in an occupancy is extinguished before it can start an external fire, then it could be argued that the sprinklers did prevent an external fire.  

[Tadees]

If it's caught the external cladding the spread of fire will continue to other dwellings. I assume sprinkler systems have limited water supply (not my field so I wouldn't know)

[Fire Monkey]

If the cause of the fire was indeed a faulty electrical appliance answers will be needed in regard to product recalls and responsibilities of tenants.

Also will stay put policies for such tower blocks need to be re-assessed?

Will regulations have to change to ensure that entrance doors to private accommodation are changed to fire rated doors (to protect the means of escape).

In non residential buildings the RRO (Fire Safety) requires much to ensure the safety of the occupants - this does not apply to private residential (other than common areas). There are no means to ensure all residents have heard the alarm (by what ever means that may be - including voice), no way to access private flats to ensure they have evacuated. How can that elderly or ill person on a high floor escape by them selves un -aided with no fire lift?

My prayers to all of those affected by this disaster.

[Davo]

Even the archive page has now been removed









funny smell somewhere?

davo

[Owain]

funny smell somewhere?

Aye, an it's no meltin plastic. That's shyte hittin the fan, as my dear auld grannie wud have said if she'd bin fae Coocaddens.

[Fire Monkey]

Freedom of information requests and enquiries from a major international news organisation have started rolling into my inbox. Any one else getting these? Why me - I just not at the same level as many on this site and I really don't want to giving out unsuitable comments or advise to reporters.

If any one is at FireEx tomorrow I will be the one in the monkey suit.

[Dinnertime Dave]

.

If any one is at FireEx tomorrow I will be the one in the monkey suit.

Went today, good luck if it's 32 degrees.

[Mike Buckley]

OK I know I've retired, But there is one question that puzzles me. It the external cladding was on fire, how come the lobbies and the escape staircase in the center of the building were smoke logged and impassible? Surely the stairs should have been a place of relative safety?