Apartment fires

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Apartment fires – don\’t let this be you

From Just after midnight 14 June 2017 Grenfell Tower, London – 24 storeys

Last night, having dozed off in front of the TV, I awoke to this BBC doco on apartment fires and rescue crews.

http://iview.abc.net.au/programs/inside-london-fire-brigade/ZW1286A001S00

 

From Still burning many hours later

 

 

 

The TV show is mostly about the tough experiences \”Inside London Fire Brigade\”, particularly for the rescuers themselves, during and after disasters like the recent Grenfell Tower fire.

 

The show also includes quite a few less spectacular apartment fires, most without any loss of life. London, a city of 8 million certainly throws up many and varied fires each day.

From Smaller apartment fire Elevated platform with hose delivering 2,300 L/min All residents are out but the fire persists in the wall cavities, The building walls must be broken down bit by bit till water can reach the seat of the fire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The destruction and loss felt by residents who have dragged themselves out on to the streets without warning, and now have nothing but the clothes on their back (and their pet in their arms) was apparent again and again.

The images in this program certainly underline the importance of our work. I could just see our client\’s faces amongst those distraught residents.

From Authorities identify residents amongst the distraught by-standers

 

From Eventually the fire is out. It may be possible to enter some apartments for limited recovery of belongings … From … including Nelson

 

 

 

 

 

 

Be prepared

Preparedness is not just about keeping your family photos in a bag near the door, or a cat box to ensure that your pet makes it out when you run for your life.Initially your building is designed and built to be safe, and this integral safety must be maintained and re-confirmed regularly. The Australian codes and Victorian Building Regulations combined aim to prevent known design faults being incorporated in buildings under construction or refurbishment. They also mandate routine servicing requirements to keep the various building safety features in place and operable.

External cladding material

I\’m sure apartment dwellers everywhere in 2017 are concerned about the fabric of construction of the place they call home.

We look forward to the issue of investigative reports and action plans related to cladding materials installed in new or refurnished buildings in recent years. This will set to rest the concerns of some, and focus the resources necessary to mitigate risks in the buildings which need it.

Business as usual

Some of the simplest checks are the most important – such as visually confirming paths of travel. Resident awareness of the dangers helps keep paths clear. But frequently confirming that everyone in your apartment building sticks to this practice – that\’s our job. These fundamental escape route checks include:

  • seeing that paths of travel within your building are clear
  • checking exit doors are openable
  • ensuring the path beyond the exit door is clear
  • that fire doors and smoke doors are fit for purpose, with no big gaps round their edges, and close properly unaided.
  • that fire stairs remain unblocked and easy to use.

Call us

Call us on 1300 134 971 for your routine fire protection system servicing.

It helps save lives.

 

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