London tower block
#1
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London tower block
Utterly utterly horrific scenes and not sure the media really need to show some of the stuff they are. Just seeing the state of the tower is upsetting enough.
The stories are heartbreaking, just how does someone decide between dieing in the flames or from jumping out of the building
A lot of lives must have been lost and my thoughts are with their families and with those who have had to deal with the situation.
The emergency services are amazing to be able to deal with stuff like this and risk their lives
The stories are heartbreaking, just how does someone decide between dieing in the flames or from jumping out of the building
A lot of lives must have been lost and my thoughts are with their families and with those who have had to deal with the situation.
The emergency services are amazing to be able to deal with stuff like this and risk their lives
#5
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According to live interviews with residents and neighbours on the news this morning:
- immediate hall-neighbour of one of the first residents who escaped said he'd heard a loud bang and then saw his fridge had exploded.
- neighbours from the same street said many residents had expressed concerns about power surges that had been happening in the block over the past couple of years.
- all of the residents who'd managed to get out said the same thing about no fire alarm going off (except their own smoke detectors, if they had them).
The above probably gives some strong clues about how the fire broke out, but doesn't really explain why it spread so quickly up so many floors.
Terrible tragedy, and shouldn't be happening in an advanced capital city in the 21st Century.
- immediate hall-neighbour of one of the first residents who escaped said he'd heard a loud bang and then saw his fridge had exploded.
- neighbours from the same street said many residents had expressed concerns about power surges that had been happening in the block over the past couple of years.
- all of the residents who'd managed to get out said the same thing about no fire alarm going off (except their own smoke detectors, if they had them).
The above probably gives some strong clues about how the fire broke out, but doesn't really explain why it spread so quickly up so many floors.
Terrible tragedy, and shouldn't be happening in an advanced capital city in the 21st Century.
#7
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Difficult to conceive that this external cladding being applied isn't fireproof
people I know are / were thrilled at how much its saving them on the leccy , maybe not so much now
people I know are / were thrilled at how much its saving them on the leccy , maybe not so much now
Last edited by dpb; 14 June 2017 at 01:45 PM.
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#9
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Just one word really, tragedy.
Ex-Chairman of Residents' Association was saying that Council had completely ignored concerns that residents had during refurbishment.
Do seem to be some big questions to ask about the suitability of the exterior cladding.
DL
Ex-Chairman of Residents' Association was saying that Council had completely ignored concerns that residents had during refurbishment.
Do seem to be some big questions to ask about the suitability of the exterior cladding.
DL
#10
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Shocking pictures of such a building resorted to a smouldering shell so quickly.
Materials workmanship maintanence has to be called into question. The regulations are there and do stop fire spreading between floors. Regardless of the cause; Something was seriously wrong to allow fire to spread upwards.
Fake fire rated material via China? Builders not bothering with hermetic seals on doors or dampers on ducting? Using normal expanding foam/sealants to seal holes/gaps instead of fire rated foam/sealants. Residents/builders pinning open fire doors. Cheap/Nasty door closers that fail after a year or so?
A building like this in this day and age should not have fire spread in the way that did.
Hopefully it won't collapse so the cause will be identified and blame correctly apportioned, But looking at the current pics it looks like the one corner may give way as the support columns have seen a lot of heat.
Materials workmanship maintanence has to be called into question. The regulations are there and do stop fire spreading between floors. Regardless of the cause; Something was seriously wrong to allow fire to spread upwards.
Fake fire rated material via China? Builders not bothering with hermetic seals on doors or dampers on ducting? Using normal expanding foam/sealants to seal holes/gaps instead of fire rated foam/sealants. Residents/builders pinning open fire doors. Cheap/Nasty door closers that fail after a year or so?
A building like this in this day and age should not have fire spread in the way that did.
Hopefully it won't collapse so the cause will be identified and blame correctly apportioned, But looking at the current pics it looks like the one corner may give way as the support columns have seen a lot of heat.
#11
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Really bad news, RIP.
Please, if you are in a position to help/donate please use one of the places below.
** UPDATE: NEW HELP/DROP OFF POINTS AND FUNDRAISING APPEAL **
URGENT APPEAL for Grenfell Tower survivors. People only have their pyjamas. Need spare clothes, toys, toiletries - all ages.
PLEASE DIVERT ALL DONATIONS TO:
WESTWAY SPORTS CENTRE
1 Crowthorne Rd
London
W10 6RP
HARROW CLUB
187 Freston Rd
London
W10 6TH
AL-MANAAR CENTRE
244 Acklam Road,
W10 5YH
WHITECHAPEL HUMAN APPEAL
138 Whitechapel Road,
E1 1JQ
ANNOOR CULTURAL & COMMUNITY CENTRE
58-70 Church Road, Acton
W3 8PP
Here's the number to call if you want to make sure that your loved ones are ok: 0800 0961 233
If you're in a position to, please donate money at: https://www.gofundme.com/GRENFELL-BL...ER-FIRE-APPEAL
A list of additional verified fundraising appeals can be found here: https://www.buzzfeed.com/amphtml/lau...r-homes-in-the
Please, if you are in a position to help/donate please use one of the places below.
** UPDATE: NEW HELP/DROP OFF POINTS AND FUNDRAISING APPEAL **
URGENT APPEAL for Grenfell Tower survivors. People only have their pyjamas. Need spare clothes, toys, toiletries - all ages.
PLEASE DIVERT ALL DONATIONS TO:
WESTWAY SPORTS CENTRE
1 Crowthorne Rd
London
W10 6RP
HARROW CLUB
187 Freston Rd
London
W10 6TH
AL-MANAAR CENTRE
244 Acklam Road,
W10 5YH
WHITECHAPEL HUMAN APPEAL
138 Whitechapel Road,
E1 1JQ
ANNOOR CULTURAL & COMMUNITY CENTRE
58-70 Church Road, Acton
W3 8PP
Here's the number to call if you want to make sure that your loved ones are ok: 0800 0961 233
If you're in a position to, please donate money at: https://www.gofundme.com/GRENFELL-BL...ER-FIRE-APPEAL
A list of additional verified fundraising appeals can be found here: https://www.buzzfeed.com/amphtml/lau...r-homes-in-the
#12
Pontificating
Tragic Tragic scenes.
Reminded me of the film Towering Inferno and you'd never think something like this can happen in the first world with so many H&S laws these days.
RIP to those that have sadly lost their lives.
The cladding appears to be a major factor in how it spread so quickly, you can see on the cladding that wasn't that badly damaged at the entrance hall has streams of melted cladding that have run down and re-solidified.
Why no sprinklers and alarms in a residential building of this size?, surely a hotel would have to have a spinkler system so why not a huge tower block housing 500+ people.
Once they get to the bottom of this there will be a few manslaughter cases to answer
Reminded me of the film Towering Inferno and you'd never think something like this can happen in the first world with so many H&S laws these days.
RIP to those that have sadly lost their lives.
The cladding appears to be a major factor in how it spread so quickly, you can see on the cladding that wasn't that badly damaged at the entrance hall has streams of melted cladding that have run down and re-solidified.
Why no sprinklers and alarms in a residential building of this size?, surely a hotel would have to have a spinkler system so why not a huge tower block housing 500+ people.
Once they get to the bottom of this there will be a few manslaughter cases to answer
#13
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Pretty certain no sprinklers are required. In fact I don't recall being in a UK or even EU high rise hotel with sprinklers.
In the USA and Canada it's a different story; I've toured across both countries and pretty much every single city hotel I stopped in old and new had sprinklers and very obvious dry risers.
Don't know why I notice this, but I do; Possibly due to me bring a little claustrophobic; I always looks for ways out and never fully comfortable in places with one way in/out. Absolutely hate hotels with anti-Clapton windows.
Last edited by ALi-B; 14 June 2017 at 09:20 PM.
#14
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Thread Starter
Saw on the news they explained the US uses active protection with sprinklers but in the UK it's deemed to expensive and passive prevention is used which is down to building design and construction. Well it didn't work today
The cladding looks to have created a chimney effect around the outside of the tower and sent the flames shooting upwards. The internal design of the building was supposed to be an hour for a fire to break through to the next floor so 20 hours to get from bottom to top. It reached the top in 30 minutes from the outside. Just shocking
The cladding looks to have created a chimney effect around the outside of the tower and sent the flames shooting upwards. The internal design of the building was supposed to be an hour for a fire to break through to the next floor so 20 hours to get from bottom to top. It reached the top in 30 minutes from the outside. Just shocking
#15
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I'm involved in fire risk assessment and prevention at work, I haven't seen a plan of the building but I would say the external cladding is unlikely to cause the fire to quickly spread internally.
the building will have riser sections for water services and cables and these are hotspots for fire to spread.
Usually these have barriers between floors with material of at least one hour rating and pipes and cables sealed with fire foam or intumescent sealant.
The flat entrance doors should be fd30 minimum and be fitted with 10mm minimum intumescent fire and smoke brush seals and a self closing device, same for communal doors.
Smoke detectors should be in every compartmentalized area and hard wired.
I would say no fire risk assessment has been done on that building based on the fact some people didn't have a smoke detector.
Shocking really.
those poor people.
the building will have riser sections for water services and cables and these are hotspots for fire to spread.
Usually these have barriers between floors with material of at least one hour rating and pipes and cables sealed with fire foam or intumescent sealant.
The flat entrance doors should be fd30 minimum and be fitted with 10mm minimum intumescent fire and smoke brush seals and a self closing device, same for communal doors.
Smoke detectors should be in every compartmentalized area and hard wired.
I would say no fire risk assessment has been done on that building based on the fact some people didn't have a smoke detector.
Shocking really.
those poor people.
#16
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Cooperate manslaughter you'd imagine, at the very least incredible gall to be asking general
Public to help them out to help the afflicted
looks very bad for Government .
Public to help them out to help the afflicted
looks very bad for Government .
#18
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I'm involved in fire risk assessment and prevention at work, I haven't seen a plan of the building but I would say the external cladding is unlikely to cause the fire to quickly spread internally.
the building will have riser sections for water services and cables and these are hotspots for fire to spread.
Usually these have barriers between floors with material of at least one hour rating and pipes and cables sealed with fire foam or intumescent sealant.
The flat entrance doors should be fd30 minimum and be fitted with 10mm minimum intumescent fire and smoke brush seals and a self closing device, same for communal doors.
Smoke detectors should be in every compartmentalized area and hard wired.
I would say no fire risk assessment has been done on that building based on the fact some people didn't have a smoke detector.
Shocking really.
those poor people.
the building will have riser sections for water services and cables and these are hotspots for fire to spread.
Usually these have barriers between floors with material of at least one hour rating and pipes and cables sealed with fire foam or intumescent sealant.
The flat entrance doors should be fd30 minimum and be fitted with 10mm minimum intumescent fire and smoke brush seals and a self closing device, same for communal doors.
Smoke detectors should be in every compartmentalized area and hard wired.
I would say no fire risk assessment has been done on that building based on the fact some people didn't have a smoke detector.
Shocking really.
those poor people.
I agree.
The layout is 4 self contained single floor flats on each corner with a single central shaft that shares the stair well and lift shafts. I guess the services shaft will be alongside there too.
As you say if any of those three shafts are compromised then fire will spread to other levels.
I've seen flats of this design retrofitted with external emergency stairwells at either end (accessed via windows). I personally think this should be mandatory for any building of this height with a single stairwell. Its commonplace in the USA.
Last edited by ALi-B; 15 June 2017 at 10:14 AM.
#21
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I agree.
The layout is 4 self contained single floor flats on each corner with a single central shaft that shares the stair well and lift shafts. I guess the services shaft will be alongside there too.
As you say if any of those three shafts are compromised then fire will spread to other levels.
I've seen flats of this design retrofitted with external emergency stairwells at either end (accessed via windows). I personally think this should be mandatory for any building of this height with a single stairwell. Its commonplace in the USA.
The layout is 4 self contained single floor flats on each corner with a single central shaft that shares the stair well and lift shafts. I guess the services shaft will be alongside there too.
As you say if any of those three shafts are compromised then fire will spread to other levels.
I've seen flats of this design retrofitted with external emergency stairwells at either end (accessed via windows). I personally think this should be mandatory for any building of this height with a single stairwell. Its commonplace in the USA.
#22
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If anyone remembers the child's toy that was used in Drop the Dead Donkey by the news reporter; I was reminded of it yesterday when they kept repeating and showing the page from the child's maths book. Just trying to add drama to an already catastrophic event. No need at all.
Last edited by ^Qwerty^; 15 June 2017 at 12:51 PM.
#24
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If anyone remembers the child's toy that was used in Drop the Dead Donkey by the news reporter; I was reminded of it yesterday when they kept repeating and showing the page from the child's maths book. Just trying to add drama to an already catastrophic event. No need at all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLZ1LT0kd-4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLZ1LT0kd-4
Something I noticed is that whole day went by when not once was the "B" word mentioned on any news channel.
It was almost a relief; Not even terrorist attacks gave any relief from the media's 12 month infatuation with it.
But even then it goes into a reporting loop reporting the same over and over and over, even when nothing new or factual has been found.
Why is it so acceptable for media outlets to consider verbal diarrhea as "news"? It serves no purpose and helps nobody.
#26
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Something I noticed is that whole day went by when not once was the "B" word mentioned on any news channel.
It was almost a relief; Not even terrorist attacks gave any relief from the media's 12 month infatuation with it.
But even then it goes into a reporting loop reporting the same over and over and over, even when nothing new or factual has been found.
Why is it so acceptable for media outlets to consider verbal diarrhea as "news"? It serves no purpose and helps nobody.
It was almost a relief; Not even terrorist attacks gave any relief from the media's 12 month infatuation with it.
But even then it goes into a reporting loop reporting the same over and over and over, even when nothing new or factual has been found.
Why is it so acceptable for media outlets to consider verbal diarrhea as "news"? It serves no purpose and helps nobody.
Regarding this block. I'd lay a small bet on the contractor trimming costs perhaps by using inferior cheaper cladding which I understand has to be separated from external walls to prevent damp on the wall faces. But this gap has to be carefully sealed to prevent a "chimney" effect if there is a fire. Too much to ask of a greedy contractor trimming his costs perhaps? And of course authority inspectors can sometimes be leant on to turn a blind eye. How much does this cladding cost? Someone will be gaoled for this; pity this won't help the poor sods that got frazzled.
Re external stairwell - fine but wouldn't have worked here and how do you prevent a security risk if someone can just climb up and enter a property (a decent alarm)?
David
Last edited by David Lock; 15 June 2017 at 04:41 PM.
#27
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I will bet that no one will end up in jail for this one.It will come back too close to central government for making cut backs of local government funding.Too many big names in the Kensington & Chelsea Borough(Cameron).Any blame will be diverted to private contractors.Also the poor people in the block were mostly low income so they really don't give a damn.
#28
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And the country of origin for this cladding material/foam ?
Re: Extra Stairwells. Plenty of ways to secure them so they are exit only. As for being engulfed in flames; Probably, but it would have aided far swifter evacuation, give fire crews something to aim at and concentrate water sprays on, and of course give them another means of entry; Once the main stairwell was taken out of action from the internal fire, all hope is lost, and this appeared to have occurred very very quickly
Re: Extra Stairwells. Plenty of ways to secure them so they are exit only. As for being engulfed in flames; Probably, but it would have aided far swifter evacuation, give fire crews something to aim at and concentrate water sprays on, and of course give them another means of entry; Once the main stairwell was taken out of action from the internal fire, all hope is lost, and this appeared to have occurred very very quickly