Quote:
Originally Posted by nomadking
The idea with large scale residential accommodation is to contain any outbreak of fire long enough for the fire brigade to get there. If a centralised fire alarm system was there then hundreds of people would have tried to leave the building at the same time, each time somebody burnt the toast. Usually there would be no need to evacuate the whole building.
The boundary walls, ceiling and floors of each flat should be fire resistant. Is it possible that the common walls, ceilings, and floors between flats were not fire resistant? That would have helped the fire spread more easily. If the exterior cladding was flammable, that would have helped the fire bypass any fire resistant walls etc.
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Actually The exit route should be smoke free if all building regs are met. ie Communal areas outside the flat door are protected with with access doors fitted with intumescent strips sealing the doors in event of fire.
The fire escape access doors should be also simarlally be protected. We should not pre-empt it by speculation either.
Although the intumescent strips only really activate with heat forming a tight seal they should resist smoke before the heat gets there
If doors are fitted properly
So, in event of fire walk outside your flat into the communal area, walk to the fire escape and if everything has been fitted correctly walk down the smoke/heat free stairwell and exit.
For everything to work as it should all communal doors,flat front doors and flat kitchen doors should be fitted with firedoors and door closers.
Due to the time the fire broke out there is also the problem of the fire alarm reportedly not working. The LFB enquiry will reveal all and should not be ignored by local or national government.