The Torch on fire
 

should read: THE TORCH

re: The Torch on fire
 

I was just coming on to ask about this. Nothing in The National but front page of The Times.

re: The Torch on fire
 

Made Sky and BBC news. Looked nasty, one resident said 'we've had three false alarms this week' so if was nobody badly hurt or killed it will be a miracle.

re: The Torch on fire
 

Agreed. I'll be extremely dubious of any official numbers

Re: The Torch on fire
 

Fixed for you :)

Re: The Torch on fire
 

Since we have construction professionals here; is the reason for the fire aluminum cladding or some other material that is popular in the region but not so in the West?

Re: The Torch on fire
 

The reason for the fire will be stupidity. The spread of the fire maybe use of cheap materials. Given the history of that tower (i.e. built during a financial crisis and delivered very late), I would guess shite materials are a part of it.

Re: The Torch on fire
 

This has been mentioned on here before, but the cladding that they use in most buildings in Dubai is flammable. This type of cladding was banned in the UK back in the 80/90's. Its construction allows the fire to spread inside the cladding. It is obviously cheaper, hence is used often. If you look at the pictures online you see how it has melted and spread the fire. It looks like a piece of lit cladding fell off the right hand side and fell down and landed and set another fire off.

It seems that the tower has also had an issue with sprinklers and fire alarms since it opened. At least it looks like no one has been seriously injured.

Re: The Torch on fire
 

As do probably most high-rise buildings in the UAE.

In developed countries I imagine that tenants will not still have to pay rent while their apartments are uninhabitable. Anyone know what the situation is in Dubai?

Re: The Torch on fire
 

They feel magnanimous in their generosity and provide Vaseline free of charge as you pay rent for a hole

Re: The Torch on fire
 

This one in particular seems to have had many problems.

It has a near 900 page entry on skyscraper city website. Pictures of the blockwork etc during construction are pretty shocking. I know that blockwork is not structural, but it gives an indication of poor quality.

throw in some cheap cladding...

Re: The Torch on fire
 

Where else do you pay 12 months up front? Usually you only pay monthly and can move after say 6 months.

Re: The Torch on fire
 

Media reports are that no one died.

Is the Torch 50% occupied, 80% occupied or more like 30% occupied?

Re: The Torch on fire
 

A friend lives just above where the first fire started. Said it was chaos, everyone expected false alarm so left with very little.

She's not allowed back in yet and given her cat was rescued and was soaking wet, she's not holding out much hope.

99.9% certain it will have been started by a grade-A ****tard.

Re: The Torch on fire
 

Seven Days are reporting that the blaze started in an apartment occupied by a British national. Not always those you most suspected.