THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

Fire Safety on Construction Sites

Adair Lewis

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

The problem in context

• There are 11 fires a day on construction sites in the UK

• Arson fires on construction sites are a major problem – and are likely to increase due to the economic climate

• 0.1% of all fires in the UK occur on construction sites – but 66% of these are deliberately started

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

Causes of serious fires

Hot

wor

k

Ars

on

Ele

ctric

al

Gas

Rub

bish

bur

ning

Sm

okin

g m

ater

ials

Unk

now

n

Oth

er

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

Where the serious fires occur

Re-fur-bishment

/ con-ver-sion30%

Con-struc-tion70%

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

Refur-bishment / conversion

7%

Construc-tion,93%

Losses from serious fires

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

What was the problem?Construction Industry Insurance Premiums• 1989 £89.60m• 1990 £90.32m• 1991 £80.66m

Figures represent approx. 85% of active UK construction market writers

But there were several large losses, for example

• June 1990 Broadgate Phase 8 £35m

• Aug 1991 Minster Court £120m

To sustain these losses premiums would have need to be increased by 400% - 500%

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

Joint Code of Practice

• Published jointly by the Contractors Legal Group and Fire Protection Association (on behalf of RISCAuthority)

• The 1st edition was published in 1992

• it is an insurance requirement for all projects with an original contract value of £2.5 million or more

• and applies equally to smaller value contracts where these are part of a large project

• a ‘large project’, has an original contract value of £20m or above.

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

Life safety v property protection

The code is designed to be compatible with information provided by other bodies:

• HSE 168 • UKTFA• F&RS

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

Application of the CoP

• construction of buildings, structures and infrastructure

• renovation, repair, upkeep, redecoration and other maintenance work

• installation / modification of process plant and equipment

• installation, maintenance, repair and removal of fixed services, such as gas, electrical, compressed air and hydraulic systems

• dismantling and demolition

The Joint Code of Practice is applicable to

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

Fire Prevention on construction sites

1. Objective2. Compliance3. Introduction4. Definitions5. Design phase6. Construction phase7. Liaison with the emergency services8. Emergency procedures9. Fire protection10.Temporary covering materials11.Portable fire extinguishers

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

Fire Prevention on construction sites

12.Site security against arson13.Temporary buildings and temporary

accommodation14.Flammable liquids and LPG15.Acetylene16.Hot work17.Electricity and gas18.Waste materials19.Plant and vehicles20.Stored materials21.Smoking22.High rise construction sites23.Large timber frame structures

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

Definitions

High rise construction site:• a site where the workforce is at risk by being

outside the distance by which the fire and rescue service can effect a rescue by mechanical means (currently 30m reach from the position where a fire appliance may be parked)

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

High rise structures

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

High rise structures

Specific fire risk assessment required, concerns:• Time to escape• Lack of completed compartmentation• Inadequate water supplies• No protected moe – fire doors etcSolutions:• Electrically operated fire alarm throughout• Horizontal compartmentation every 10 floors• Wet riser• Doors to be fitted as soon as possible

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

Definitions

Large timber frame structure:• timber framed structure of four or more

storeys and / or an aggregate floor area of 2500m2 or more

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

Large timber frame structures

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

Definitions

High fire risk site:• encompasses the following:

- a high-rise construction site;- a large project;- a large timber framed structure; or

- projects where risk assessments indicate significant potential loss of life or property.

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

Significant changes in 8th edition

• No changes in legislation but clarification of responsibilities

• Amendment to definition of large timber frame structure

• Weekly testing of the fire alarm• The need for fire extinguishers to be part of the

site fire precautions• Emphasis on the need for evacuation drills• At least two escape routes from a structure at all

times

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

Significant changes in 8th edition

• Site to be locked and secured outside working hours

• Access to upper levels by scaffolding be denied to intruders

• Number of security staff to be risk assessed• Insurer to be consulted at the commencement of

work on high fire risk projects and suspension of work on sites

• Site accommodation: self closers on doors, increase in width of fire breaks

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

Significant changes in 8th edition

• No construction workers to live in an incomplete structure

• Revision to wording regarding acetylene cylinders

• Specific inclusion of Scotland• Expended text on large timber frame buildings

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

All was going well until.....

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

......large timber cribs came along

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

Case history

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

The developmentBlock B1 - Ground + 6 storeysBlock B2 - Ground + 5 storeysBlock B3 - Ground + 5 storeysBlock B4 - Ground + 6 storeys Block B5 - Ground + 5 storeys

Halls of residence

Aerodrome Road N

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

The fire

First call to fire brigade:

Frank Torrence - excavator driver 15:3912 July 2006

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

15:42

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

15:47

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

15:51

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

The developmentBlock B1 - Ground + 6 storeysBlock B2 - Ground + 5 storeysBlock B3 - Ground + 5 storeysBlock B4 - Ground + 6 storeys Block B5 - Ground + 5 storeys

Halls of residence

Aerodrome Road N

Cement silos

Stairs

Crane

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

The results

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

Large timber framed structures

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

Large timber framed structures

• At the design stage consider the suitability of the design and potential for fire spread

• Consider period of maximum vulnerability during the construction process

• Appropriate fire protection treatment of timber• Earliest possible compartmentation• Subdivision of horizontal shafts/ducts using temporary fire

retardant boarding• Permanent fire resisting structures (doors, partitions,

stopping) installed as soon as practicable• Final cladding to building in place as soon as possible• Consider proximity of structure to boundary and adjacent

buildings as part of site risk assessment

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

Large timber framed structures

• Facing exposed timber construction and combustible insulation with non-combustible materials at the earliest opportunity

• No part of a timber frame structure to be used as residential accommodation during the construction period

• Generators and similar heat producing equipment to be prohibited on site

• Foam plastic on site to be minimised

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

UK Timber Frame Association

• Has developed a 16 point plan to be used consistently by Principal Contractors (wasn’t used at Peckham!)

• SiteSafe mandatory by UKTFA on large projects (ie 4 or more storeys or an aggregate floor area of >2,500m2

• Large projects are required to be registered with the UKTFA

• Details of the Coordinator and site fire plan requested and reviewed

• Build sequence and handover procedure have to be agreed

• Relevant Chief Fire officer to be notified.

• Effective policing

THE UK’s NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY ORGANISATIONProtecting people, property, business and the environment

Joint Code of Practice

Fire Prevention on Construction Sites8th Edition Update

Thank you ………..… the end