Finished timber block burnt down in 2007

The 12 flats in Marston Way, Croydon were built in the 1970s and were destroyed after a blaze on Christmas Day 2007.

Previous reported timber frame blazes, including the recent fire in Peckham, have begun on building sites rather than in completed buildings.

Timber frame buildings are more vulnerable to fire while they are being built than other forms of construction because fire protection measures have not yet have been installed. However once complete manufacturers and the government say they are at no greater risk of fire than any other form of building.

A spokeswoman for the UK Timber Frame Association, which represents manufacturers, said: ‘There is absolutely no evidence that timber frame buildings are a fire hazard at all.

‘If it [the Croydon building] was built in the 1970s it should have been built to the building regulations in force at the time. They have changed dramatically over the last 20 years.

‘Nobody has ever cast doubt on complete timber frame buildings built to building regulations. Nobody is pointing the finger at any form of housing, no matter what it is built from, as long as it is built to building regulations.’

‘As a consequence of the fire, many more tenants will be a lot safer should anyone be so stupid as to play with matches again in future.’

The Croydon fire was started by a child playing with matches and spread into a wall cavity and into the roof space of the flats, according to a council statement at the time.

In a London Councils meeting, Croydon’s then housing director Mike Davis said the top floor had collapsed plus two floors below. Fire fighters worked all night to suppress the blaze but the block had to be demolished. He said fire fighters had put out the blaze only to be called back an hour later because it had spread rapidly.

At the time the council said it ‘has no reason to consider the timber-framed buildings were not constructed in line with regulations of the day’ but that fire regulations had been become tougher since the 1970s.

The council built a new block to replace it, at an estimated cost of £1.25 million, which was expected at the time to be paid by the council’s insurers. Families were set to move into the new building from 23 November this year.

The council brought in consultants to assess the fire risk in 11 other timber frame blocks on the estate. Council documents said the consultants found ‘substantial remedial works are needed to these buildings’.

The council also identified eight more timber framed blocks on another estate, Tollgate, but said the risk of fire spread was lower than in Marston Way.

A council statement in July last year said Croydon had brought in contractors to cap the top-of-wall cavities within the roof space and build fire separation walls, fire-proof flues, pipes, vents and electrical sockets penetrating external walls and provide extra protection to window reveals in one block in Marston Way.

The council said it would carry out similar work to the other blocks in Marston Way and the Tollgate estate. It added: ‘These measures will ensure it is no longer possible for fire to get into the cavity and spread through it.’

At the time cabinet member for housing, Dudley Mead, said: ‘It’s important not to forget that the fire brigade report confirms that the fire had been started in a bedroom by a child playing with matches.

‘The safety of tenants and occupiers is a prime consideration for the council. But it’s virtually impossible to eliminate this kind of risk. As always though, unexpected incidents provide an opportunity to learn lessons. The Marston Way fire has enabled us to seek out all properties originally built to dated construction standards and to upgrade precautions. As a consequence of the fire, many more tenants will be a lot safer should anyone be so stupid as to play with matches again in future.’

A council spokesman said a fire risk assessment had not been done on the block where the fire took place before the blaze. Legislation requiring fire risk assessments came into force in 2006, a year before the fire, but the council had agreed a timetable with the fire brigade to carry out the work.

A spokesperson said: ‘The fire brigade was satisfied with the work the council was undertaking to meet its requirements at the time of the fire, and the timescales for that work.’

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