magnumpi

Most may have seen this in the news by now or heard of it, but I am flabbergasted by the pics of the whole building burning? How can a whole building burn down, or up, or whatever, I have seen apartment fires but they usually just damage a small area only.

Are UK buildings made of straw and paper ? No way should a whole building suffer such damage in this day and age !!! NO WAY !!

Witnesses say children thrown from London highrise to save them from deadly fire - World - CBC News

Atlantic Xpat

Allegedly the cladding recently installed on the outside wasn't fireproof.

MidAtlantic

There is certainly something seriously wrong about it. Compliance with the building regs and fire prevention measures should ensure that the fire is contained within one flat and certainly that escape routes remain usable.

I have seen several London fires where just one flat in a block is ablaze but, apart from flames from windows going up the outside, nothing else is affected. That's how it should be.

Pulaski

There are plans afoot in the US and Canada to building timber framed apartments/condos up to 18 stories. I know of one built a decade ago here in NC that is ten stories, and that isn't cheap apartments but is comprised of high-end condos with a French chateau style exterior, that were originally sold for $700$-$800k each. IIRC

mrken30

One has just been built.

Portland Home To Tallest Wooden Building In The US

https://cleantechnica.com/2017/06/12...n-building-us/

mrken30

I am assuming that new uPVC windows were installed. These probably just melted and allowed the cladding to catch fire.

I wonder if the company that installed the cladding will remain solvent for very long.

mrken30

This is a daily mail article, but there may be some truth in what they say.

London Fire: No sprinklers or fire alarm in Grenfell Tower | Daily Mail Online

sharkus

The exterior was modernised with rain screen cladding, believed to have included thermal insulation, and replacement windows, while curtain wall facades, a new heating system and smoke extract and ventilation system were also installed.

Take from here

It does look rather horrific, and there are fears it'll collapse.

Apparently residents complained about risk of fire previously as well - have a look here

I've always been slightly concerned about the buildings over here, as the new stuff going up over the past 10 years (probably longer too), seems all to be wood framed, which does explain how large cookie-cutter sub-divisions can get thrown up in a very short space of time, but it also seems to be a big fire risk, as one burning building could overtake another. Sure, there is meant to be some kind of firebreak material between the buildings (I'm thinking row / townhouse / small apartment complexes) but I suspect it's the bare minimum required by code.

dbd33

When we added a floor to our house we were obliged to finish the walls that were near to neighbouring houses with fire resistant drywall. I don't know how effective it is but it's bloody heavy.

mrken30

I assume that was inside the house. I know where I live, vinyl siding is used to tidy up older looking homes.

Siouxie

Just terrible.

Did the building's new cladding make the fire much worse?

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/...k-tower-blocks

BristolUK

I know I'm at risk of being accused of point scoring, or some such, inappropriate comments etc

But is this really the Daily Mail running an article alleging important safety standards not being met? The same Daily Mail that complains about petty H&S legislation and Red Tape?

Personally I can't think of a more appropriate time to make such a comment than when the devastating consequences of alleged cutting corners are made apparent.

Shard

I've often thought that it should be compulsory for occupants in a high rise to have some sort of rope/abseil system as an emergency resource. Apparently in this fire some occupants were tying sheets together as a means to escape.

dbd33

Yes, inside. That was a previous house. At the current one we tore the vinyl siding off and took it to the dump.

caretaker

On the early morning news they reported that out of 125 suites about 25 had their own smoke detectors, and there were no common area smoke detectors and no sprinklers.