Construction site fire raises fresh fears over timber frame safety
Third Southwark blaze
One hundred and fifty Southwark residents were evacuated from their homes this week following a third major blaze in the borough in just over seven months
Firefighters were called to a building site in Camberwell Station Road, in south London, shortly before 2.30am on Wednesday morning. The five-floor timber frame block under construction was intended for about 30 private flats and commercial premises.
Residents were evacuated from nearby properties. They returned home after the blaze was brought under control at 6.15am.
The fire comes just over a month after a massive blaze on another timber frame construction site in the early hours of 26 November (Inside Housing, 4 December). Hundreds of people fled their homes after the fire spread to nearby flats owned by Southwark Council and a housing association.
Greenacre Homes was the developer for both timber frame sites.
Arnold Tarling, a surveyor with 20 years’ experience inspecting public sector housing, said: ‘My view is timber frames are suitable for a couple of semis or a property on its own.’
David Simmonds, managing director of Greenacre Homes, said a site watchman was on duty on Wednesday. That was not the case in November. ‘We took all the necessary precautions on this site and we don’t know the reasons [for the fire] at the moment,’ he added.
Both blazes followed a fatal fire in Lakanal House, Camberwell, in July, in which six people died. Following that fire, Inside Housing campaigned for the creation of a national database of tower blocks. The Tenant Services Authority supported the demand and was due to publish plans as Inside Housing went to press.
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Readers' comments (4)
Howard Cox | 08/01/2010 4:51 pm
How many more timber frame fires do there have to be before this method for large sites is banned?Better management techniques,security,watching etc is just a sticking plaster.The risk should be removed at source in the way that all Risk is managed.The solution?Simple ,lightweight steel frame is the way forward.
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| 09/01/2010 0:57 am
"Both blazes followed a fatal fire in Lakanal House, Camberwell, in July, in which six people died. Following that fire, Inside Housing campaigned for the creation of a national database of tower blocks"
Err...and the connection between timber framed building sites and existing concrete tower blocks is?
Well, nothing at all. Is it? Unfortunately, and partly thanks to Southwark's unreformed and unreconstructed (and completely incompetent) retained stock LA housing department (perhaps added to the fact that it is the nation's No 1 net national debtor to the HRA, sucking hundreds of millions every year from the rents of the other 200 odd somewhat more responsible councils around the country) it has far too much council housing for it's size and a huge amount of criminals occupying same. Some of which happen to be arsonists. Could there be a connection between the arsonists who caused this incident and the arsonists who caused the other one? Maybe. Is there a connection between modern five storey small block timber frame constructed blocks and 1960's/1970's concrete tower blocks? None whatsoever. Southwark just happens to be full of criminal scum allocated tenancies by the council. These incidents have nothing to do with construction methods, modern or otherwise, and everything to do with demographics. IH, wise up and smell the coffee. Stop associating small modern timber frame constructions with old concrete Large Panel tower blocks. Not connected. OK?
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rockenergy | 12/01/2010 9:23 am
Before anybody blames the timberframe construction, which is used worldwide with great success one should find out what caused those fires. It will have to do with neglected maintenance or stupidity - wanna bet?
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Sancho | 12/01/2010 9:58 am
This is beginning to look like some kind of campaign against timber framed construction, which is totally unwarranted.
From what I have read about this fire elsewhere, neighbours mentioned explosions and being particularly worried about the fire around the base of a crane. Nothing to do with the timber frame.
It sounds to me like someone has a grudge against Greenacre.....
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