Arnold Tarling
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Comment on: Camberwell flats blaze kills six
Having inspected Marie Curie House the sister block to Lakanal House there are numerous defects in the fireproofing that was caused by removal of the original fire protection to accomodate a new heating system. What is interesting is how the fire spead to the rear of the property, up wind passing over the fire escape lobby. The fire spread through the corridor ceiling void. The fire protection was missing to the flats door frames in the corridor ceiling void, the little fire protection that was installed was defectively installed to the stairs that penetrate corridors and unsupported in the corridors, the fire barriers in the corridor ceiling were smashed due to the installation of wiring to the security doors, the security doors were not fire doors and had weld mesh creating a wind tunnel. This is just part of the numerous defects in Marie Curie House - Southwark are unlucky that it was a fire in their borough that highlights defects in tower blocks throught the country. Having reported on tower blocks over twenty years these defects are not isolated. There are numerous defects in fire protection to newbuild properties which are also missed by NHBC and Building control. We need a whole rethink as to design and installation of fire protection. Arnold Tarling BSc FRICS MCIArb
