Facing up to the fire safety challenge

By Thomas Lane2019-09-18T05:00:00

The Worcester Park development fire throws up questions beyond the use of timber frame

Last week’s fire in an apartment block in south London has placed the issue of rapid fire spread in timber-framed buildings back into the spotlight.

If built properly, the walls of a timber-framed building should be able to resist the spread of fire for one hour, which is plenty of time for people to get out

A resident described the fire as “ripping through” the New England style four-storey building, part of a Berkeley Homes development in Worcester Park. It took 125 firefighters five hours to get the fire under control. Fortunately, the 70 residents in the building escaped unharmed.

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