September 3, 2010
Official Statistics Fuel Fire Concerns over Timber-framed Buildings
OFFICIAL STATISTICS FUEL FIRE CONCERNS OVER TIMBER-FRAMED BUILDINGS
For the first time official statistics covering all the fires that occurred in England include a section concerned with fires in timber-framed buildings. The figures make uncomfortable reading for those living in and those insuring timber-frame believes Graham Mackenzie, chairman of the British Association of Reinforcement.
The Department of Communities and Local Government latest Fire Statistics Monitor covers all the fires in England from April 2009 to March 2010. The figures show that if there is a fire in a timber-frame building, whether complete or under-construction, a larger area will be damaged compared to non-timber construction, such as reinforced concrete. The statistics are startling. 28% of timber-frame dwellings under construction where a fire occurred suffered from 200m2 of damage compared with only 4% of non-timber frame structures. For completed homes, 47% of completed timber-frame dwellings that caught fire suffered damage to an area greater than 50m2 compared to 32% of those built using other forms of construction.
The publication of the statistics will add fuel to the fire of concern over the growing use of timber-frame. Timber-frame construction has grown in popularity because it is relatively cheap and fast. Once the preserve of the self-build sector, it is estimated that some 60% of all new social homes are now built using timber-frame.
Both the London Fire Authority and the Fire Protection Association have criticised the use of timber-frame construction. Following the investigation into last year’s major fire in Peckham that destroyed a half-completed 5 storey timber-frame building and badly damaged adjacent blocks of flats, Brian Coleman, chairman of the London Fire Authority, questioned the use of timber-frame for multi-storey buildings saying: “I have always been a stern critic of high rise timber-frame buildings having seen in my own area the results of a blaze. I personally wouldn’t allow any high rise timber buildings – there needs to be a review of regulations.”
Coleman also poured cold water over the timber industry’s assurances that the main risk is during construction. He said: “Supporters of timber frame buildings say once they’re built they’re completely safe. But we know people drill holes in walls which damages the building fabric and allows the timber to become exposed.” Meanwhile, the Fire Protection Association (FPA) warns that the nature of the timber-frame construction method means that a minor fire can quickly spread through the cavity walls to the core of the building without being noticed until it was too late. Jim Glockling, technical director of the FPA has called for a full inquiry into the use of timber-frame construction with a focus on the fire spread inside cavities. This is a call that is increasingly being backed by the insurance companies who are concerned about the high value of claims arising from timber frame fires.
The timber industry is trying to address the problem of fire on construction sites by using third-party accreditation to ensure that contractors install fire-stopping measure correctly. However, what of completed dwellings whose fire performance could be compromised by occupiers knocking holes in walls wanting to put up shelves? Timber is a combustible material, unlike reinforced concrete. These figures prove that timber-frame buildings whether under construction or completed are vulnerable to fire. There needs to be a full-scale inquiry into the use of timber-frame buildings, particularly for multi-storey residential projects, together with a tougher regulatory inspection regime.
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