Dr Barbara Lane of Arup gives expert presentation on building construction and fire safety. Explains original 1974 tower design with non-combustible external wall, fire safety requirements under Building Regulations Part B, and how stay put strategy works. Details original walkway access, smoke control system, and compartmentation principles.
00:14:10 well good morning everyone and welcome to this week's hearings we're going to begin the week by hearing some presentations from the various expert witnesses instructed by the inquiry yes
00:14:21 witnesses instructed by the inquiry yes Miss Granger mr. chairman thank you this is the first of three days of expert presentations these will be given by dr. Barbara Lane professor Neve Nick Dade and Professor
00:14:34 professor Neve Nick Dade and Professor Luke Bisbee as mr. millet outlined in his opening submissions the purpose of these expert presentations is to set in context the factual evidence which will
00:14:46 context the factual evidence which will shortly be called in phase one dr. Lane will be introducing key aspects of the building in its history and will identify the active and passive fire
00:14:57 identify the active and passive fire safety measures which were present in the tower at the time of the fire professor Nick Dave's presentation will address three principal topics first the
00:15:08 address three principal topics first the basic science of fire second the element of fire investigation and in particular what evidence such as fire markings can tell us about the origin of a fire and
00:15:19 tell us about the origin of a fire and third a summary of her preliminary analysis of the cause and origin of the initial fire within the kitchen of fat16 professor Bisbee will be explaining
00:15:31 professor Bisbee will be explaining certain key scientific concepts relevant to flammability and flame spread and will describe the material properties of certain materials present in the facade
00:15:42 certain materials present in the facade and the windows in the tower he will also set out the preliminary evidence which assists in understanding the pattern of flames spread out of flat 16
00:15:54 pattern of flames spread out of flat 16 and over the exterior of the tower on the night of the fire it is hoped that these expert presentations will assist in setting the framework and context to the factual
00:16:07 framework and context to the factual evidence which will follow including from firefighters who will be called first and from the bereaved and survivors of the fire who escaped from the tower and he will give evidence from
00:16:18 the tower and he will give evidence from September in terms of these substantive conclusions of the experts in their phase one reports those will be tested when they come to give detailed evidence
00:16:30 when they come to give detailed evidence in October and once they have heard and taken account of the factual phase one evidence it is at that time that the
00:16:41 evidence it is at that time that the experts will be questioned on the key opinions they have expressed in their reports on phase one issues at that stage we will also hear from other inquiry experts and in particular
00:16:53 inquiry experts and in particular professor Jose torero who has considered the ignition of the facade materials the fire spread to and on the exterior of the tower and the fire and smoke spread
00:17:05 the tower and the fire and smoke spread within the tower and we will also hear from Professor purser he will be dealing with the issues relating to the production of toxic gases including the toxicity performance
00:17:18 gases including the toxicity performance of materials present in the tower on the night of the fire mr. chairman the core participants were informed by letter last week that if they wish to suggest relevant questions
00:17:29 they wish to suggest relevant questions for the inquiry experts when they provide their all evidence those should be submitted to the inquiry solicitors mailbox by Monday the 3rd of September 2018 if there are any further questions
00:17:40 2018 if there are any further questions which arise out of factual evidence heard after that time then those were needed to be provided near later than five clear working days before the relevant expert is due to give oral evidence prior to calling dr. Lane he
00:17:55 evidence prior to calling dr. Lane he will give today's presentation I need to give some trigger warnings about the content of the coming expert material the presentation of dr. lane which will take place today
00:18:06 of dr. lane which will take place today will contain images of the tower before the fire and also some detailed images of certain parts of the building after the fire concentrating on the physical
00:18:17 the fire concentrating on the physical features of for example the cladding the windows and fire doors there will also be a simulation of a fire in a flat with reference to how stay-put is intended to
00:18:30 reference to how stay-put is intended to operate the presentation of sorry I will be calling dr. lane today the presentation of Professor McDade which
00:18:41 presentation of Professor McDade which will take place tomorrow will contain detailed images of the flat of origin flat 16 after the fire we the burnt-out compartment it will also include videos showing the early developments of the
00:18:53 showing the early developments of the fire and thermal images of the firefighting and flat 16 together with the playing of the first 999 call by mr. comedy mr. Andrew Kinney a QC will call
00:19:04 comedy mr. Andrew Kinney a QC will call professor Nick date tomorrow finally the presentation of Professor Bisbee which will take place this Wednesday will include a large number of images and videos depicting the external
00:19:16 images and videos depicting the external flames spread on the night of the fire this will include the playing of his composite flames spread video which was played by mr. millet in his opening and detailed consideration of that and of
00:19:28 detailed consideration of that and of other flame spread material which shows the tower burning and on fire some of the videos include the audio of persons witnessing the fire and their distress at the unfolding events the presentation
00:19:42 at the unfolding events the presentation will also contain a number of images of the burnt-out tower after the fire and the playing of the first 999 all again mr. millet will call professor Bisbee so I would now like to call dr.
00:19:56 Bisbee so I would now like to call dr. Lane yes
00:20:08 I swear by Almighty God that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth the whole truth and nothing but the
00:20:20 the whole truth and nothing but the truth
00:20:21 truth thank you very much thank you dr. Lane can you give you the inquiry your full names
00:20:31 names dr. Barbara Lane I'm going to put to you a number of propositions which I hope will be uncontroversial you have provided to the inquiry a preliminary phase one report which is dated the 12th
00:20:44 phase one report which is dated the 12th of April 2018 and which consists of 21 chapters and 11 in appendices a to K yes I have that report addresses in
00:20:55 I have that report addresses in particular the active and passive fire protection measures within the tower and the extent to which they failed to control the spread of fire and smoke and contributed to the speed at which the fire spreads that's correct as you
00:21:09 fire spreads that's correct as you indicate in the declaration in section 21 of your report you have provided it in the same way as you would have provided a report to a court that's correct in section 1.1 an appendix a to
00:21:25 correct in section 1.1 an appendix a to your report you have outlined your background and experience relevant to their matters in this inquiry yes I have now we do we don't need to rehearse all of that in detail today but I want to
00:21:38 of that in detail today but I want to pick out some key points you are a director of Arup which is an independent company of designers planners engineers consultants and technical specialists addressing professional services in the
00:21:50 addressing professional services in the built environment yes I am you specialize in fire safety engineering in the built environment and you have 20 years experience in the construction industry in England and internationally
00:22:02 industry in England and internationally that's correct you are a chartered fire safety engineer having graduated from Trinity College Dublin yes that's correct you are a fellow of era
00:22:14 that's correct you are a fellow of era which is an honorary title awarded to exceptional individuals within the firm yes I am and finally you are also a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society of
00:22:27 Engineering and the Royal Society of Edinburgh yes I am thank you I ought line that dr. Lane so that everyone will appreciate the expertise that you are able to bring to bear and your experience in dealing with the matters that this inquiry has asked you to
00:22:39 that this inquiry has asked you to consider other factual matters set out in your report true to the best of your knowledge and belief yes they are does your report accurately set out your opinions on matters relevant to this
00:22:52 opinions on matters relevant to this inquiry yes it does thank you dr. Lane now in your own time please would you go ahead and give your oral presentation if you'd like to stand or sit you do whichever yes yes all
00:23:05 or sit you do whichever yes yes all right thank you okay good morning I've arranged my opening presentation into an ordered series of subjects as follows first this morning I will start by explaining the original construction
00:23:16 explaining the original construction materials and the original building foreman layout when Grand Vitara was designed and built between 1967 and 1974 I will provide information on the
00:23:28 I will provide information on the external landscape around the tower at that time also I will then provide a detailed presentation on the fire safety requirements for high-rise residential buildings in England in part one I will
00:23:41 buildings in England in part one I will address the building regulations and the requirement to provide a stay put strategy how it is a design condition and why it is not a fire brigade policy I will address how this as the single
00:23:53 I will address how this as the single safety condition are required to be provided in part two I will explain each of the required active and passive fire protection measures that are provided for the statehood strategy
00:24:04 for the statehood strategy I will then move specifically on to grant for Terra I will explain the summary timeline I have derived regarding the recorded building works to the tire since 1974
00:24:16 building works to the tire since 1974 before explaining and chronological order each of the replacement of the passenger lifts which took place in 2005 the replacement of the majority of the
00:24:27 the replacement of the majority of the flat entrance fire doors in 2011 a description of the gas supply refurbishment works which are commenced in 2016 and we're still in progress the night of the fire I will then dedicate
00:24:40 night of the fire I will then dedicate the rest of the afternoon session to describing in detail the works that were undertaken on the building as part of the primary refurbishment carried out between 2012 and 2016 this includes a
00:24:57 between 2012 and 2016 this includes a description of the work done to the interior of the building as well as the works done to the exterior of the building I will provide an overview and then explain in the following order the
00:25:08 then explain in the following order the external works to the immediate surroundings of Grand Vitara the reconfiguration of ground levels to level 3 the reconfiguration of the internal fire main the refurbishment of
00:25:19 internal fire main the refurbishment of the existing smoke control system the provision of a new heating system and the new hot or cold water systems before ending with the detailed explanation of the materials forming the rainscreen
00:25:31 the materials forming the rainscreen cladding works as I have found them in my work for the enquiry my colleagues working with me on my factual investigations are Susan Dini Peter Woodburn Tom Parker alpha Chapman
00:25:44 Peter Woodburn Tom Parker alpha Chapman Daniel Anton Ellis and Graham Flint dr. Flint is in attendance to operate a series of photos illustrations and annum direct the presentation which we have
00:25:56 direct the presentation which we have provided an order to help understand the technical issues I'm focusing on today
00:26:16 the original building construction and layers as I've explained in section 3 of my preliminary phase 1 report Granville tower is a 25 story building
00:26:27 Granville tower is a 25 story building with the basement level underground to level 23 inclusive plus a plant room located above level 23 a true flat roof level it is a residential park block
00:26:39 level it is a residential park block built in the early 1970s and is located in the Lancaster West estate in the North Kensington area of London the Lancaster West estate is located in
00:26:50 the Lancaster West estate is located in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea the estate was designed by Clifford Reardon & Associates in the late 1960s phase 1 was approved in 1970
00:27:01 late 1960s phase 1 was approved in 1970 and consisted of the tower as well as three low-rise residential blocks called finger blocks these are tested on walk Hurst wait walk and Barrington walk they
00:27:13 Hurst wait walk and Barrington walk they are three and four-story buildings construction of Brantford higher by contractors AE signs of leighton london / münster 1972 with the tower completed
00:27:25 / münster 1972 with the tower completed in 1974 to help explain the external spaces around the outside of branch retire I have drawn on some additional information not currently in my report
00:27:36 information not currently in my report using online mapping services and commercially available context models of the surrounding area there was a walkway at level 2 of Grand Vitara that allowed access from each of the finger blocks
00:27:48 access from each of the finger blocks over to the tower the finger blocks extend to the south side of Grand Vitara and enclosed to large green spaces the area to the immediate east of Brantford
00:28:00 area to the immediate east of Brantford Tyra's Lancaster Green and there were children's play areas to the immediate west to the north side lies silk Chester Road Brantford tires owned by the local authority Kensington and Chelsea London
00:28:13 authority Kensington and Chelsea London pencil Brentford tyra was part of their provision of social housing in the borough the management of social housing in the borough was devolved in 1996 to the Kensington and Chelsea tenant
00:28:25 the Kensington and Chelsea tenant management organisation originally the main fire vehicle access designed for was via grateful Road at the south end of the tower based on the original
00:28:37 of the tower based on the original design drawings it also appears that fire vehicles could also have accessed the building's via cell Chester Road at the north end of the tower if that was
00:28:48 the north end of the tower if that was needed as shown in this 3d model fire vehicles approached the building from Grant Hill Road and the site with access to the southeast corner of the tower provided by driving under the level to
00:29:01 provided by driving under the level to walkway in this series of photographs this southern approach route is shown which was the state before the last refurbishment works occurred the heights
00:29:13 refurbishment works occurred the heights between the road surface and the underside of the walkway structure is approximately four point eight meters the presence of the walkway is important in retrospect because it means that whilst it was tall enough to allow fire
00:29:26 whilst it was tall enough to allow fire vehicles to access underneath the walkway for the purposes of internal firefighter such a walkway provides an obstacle for unplanned external
00:29:37 obstacle for unplanned external firefighter as became required during the fire high reach appliances would need to move out from underneath the walkway to deploy their ladder our platform and to deploy their stabilization systems
00:29:52 the area around the east north and west side of the building were quite open with the mixture of grassy areas and hard landscaping it is useful to orientate from the south
00:30:04 it is useful to orientate from the south side where the three finger blots are located originally outside on a rank attire at ground level but positioned a ball game pitched Nursery play areas and
00:30:15 ball game pitched Nursery play areas and other amenities landscaping from online mapping services it is apparent that the amenity landscaping around the base of the tower was largely retained until
00:30:26 the tower was largely retained until around 2012 in this image all the areas around the building that could support vehicle access are highlighted in red in
00:30:38 vehicle access are highlighted in red in its original form therefore fire vehicles could have moved around the base of the tire as follows 3/4 of the site site full access to the east and north side half of the west side
00:30:52 north side half of the west side pedestrians and therefore firefighters could additionally reach all parts of the outside of the building originally a ground level as I have marked here
00:31:04 originally there were three main pedestrian entry routes into Grand Vitara
00:31:09 Vitara a ground-level firefighters could access the lips within the Central Corridor alternatively they could climb one of the three open stairs external to the tower up to the walkway at level two at
00:31:22 tower up to the walkway at level two at this level two access was also possible into the central core to the protected internal stair and the original lifts therefore firefighters would have been able to access the inside of the tower
00:31:34 able to access the inside of the tower by the walkway however fire vehicle access was only provided at ground level
00:31:43 bradford tire is 67 point three meters tall originally it contained 121 and two-bedroom flats there were six dwellings per floor on 20 of the 24
00:31:55 dwellings per floor on 20 of the 24 stories with the other four stories being used for non-residential purposes it was originally intended to house up to 600 people levels ground one and
00:32:06 to 600 people levels ground one and three were more flexible open spaces which were created for uses such as nursery offices and a community health center level 2 was left entirely open as
00:32:17 center level 2 was left entirely open as a continuation of the walkway connecting to the adjacent flats of the Lancaster West estate each story and grandfa tire is 2.6 meters high except for level two
00:32:28 is 2.6 meters high except for level two which is four point three meters high and level three which is a height of three point nine meters bradford tire has a plan floor area of approximately
00:32:39 has a plan floor area of approximately 22 by 22 meters it has a single central reinforced concrete core reinforced concrete floors and with perimeter
00:32:51 concrete floors and with perimeter reinforced concrete columns reinforced concrete cross walls were provided to separate each flat at level 4 to level 23 inclusive these wards did not extend
00:33:03 23 inclusive these wards did not extend to the basement level nor do these worlds exist at ground to level 3 the structural stability mechanism for Grand Vitara is that of a conventional concrete building with a lateral
00:33:15 concrete building with a lateral stability core in the middle of the building and concrete columns around the perimeter supporting gravity loads the floor is a flat reinforced concrete slab
00:33:26 floor is a flat reinforced concrete slab transferring load directly to the core at the perimeter of the building loads are transferred into the columns directly by the floor and via the precast perimeter beams additional
00:33:39 precast perimeter beams additional support to the floor is provided by the concrete cross walls between the flats to add further detail to the description I've currently included in my report the
00:33:50 I've currently included in my report the floor slabs were 20 centimeters thick the walls enclosing the protected lobbies stairs and lift shots on every level are collectively referred to as the core walls the thickness of the core
00:34:02 the core walls the thickness of the core walls vary between 20 and 30 centimeters the perimeter beams are approximately 25 centimeters thick the perimeter columns are approximately 70 centimeters square
00:34:15 are approximately 70 centimeters square this does not include the precast ridge facing that was used as sacrificial formwork this ridged facing as visible today on the tower was permanently
00:34:26 today on the tower was permanently connected to the columns through the provision of metal wires embedded in the concrete the structural walls between flats were 20 centimeters thick the
00:34:39 flats were 20 centimeters thick the original external wall of Grand Vitara consisted of exposed concrete surfaces and glaze and the perimeter beams were solid concrete the opening between each
00:34:50 solid concrete the opening between each perimeter beam was filled with the combination of sliding windows held in aluminium frames and non-structural non combustible infill panels the specific
00:35:01 combustible infill panels the specific material of the infill panels is currently unknown but I understand it to consist of asbestos bearing cementations material as you can see in this
00:35:13 material as you can see in this photograph and highlighted by the yellow dotted line the windows fully filled the space vertically between the top of one perimeter beam and the underside of the
00:35:24 perimeter beam and the underside of the next beam horizontally the metal window frames were fixed directly to the concrete structure on three sides and to the infill panel on the fourth side the
00:35:35 the infill panel on the fourth side the external wall of the building was therefore entirely non combustible the external wall was a single system this meant there was no void or
00:35:47 system this meant there was no void or space concealed within that external wall from here I will refer to such faces concealed spaces as cavities cavities are spaces enclosed by elements
00:35:59 cavities are spaces enclosed by elements of a building or contained within an element of the building I will be presenting more information on the issue of cavities and built-in construction later in my presentation I now move
00:36:11 later in my presentation I now move inside the building to describe the original construction of the window and the external world internally
00:36:26 here is a photograph of the inside of a two-bedroom flats before the refurbishment works were undertaken this is taken from section eight point four of my report the photograph shows the
00:36:37 of my report the photograph shows the original form of the interior window finishes and the windows themselves the windows were originally sized Snyder metal framed windows in a wooden frame fixing system as I have already noted
00:36:50 fixing system as I have already noted these windows and the adjacent infill panels fully fills the space between each perimeter beam from floor to floor the window sells the window jams on both
00:37:02 the window sells the window jams on both sides and the head of the window appeared to be lined in timber the original infill panel also appears to have been faced with timber on the room side below the windows a plaster board
00:37:15 side below the windows a plaster board covered with the polymeric insulation a product called pearl board was applied directly to the concrete perimeter beams this layer of pearl board was also
00:37:26 this layer of pearl board was also applied to the concrete ceiling in a small area close to the external wall but ran along the full perimeter of every room in every flat at ceiling level therefore in terms of combustible
00:37:39 level therefore in terms of combustible materials the original design contained the internal timber surrounds and timber lining of the infill panel as well as the pearl board of both on below the window on the room side this combustible
00:37:51 window on the room side this combustible material did not extend to the outside of the building
00:37:57 levels ground 1 & 3 contains a nursery of ground floor community use rooms at level 1 and a Health Center at level 3
00:38:12 the layout of levels 423 were on the sit were the same on every story there were six flats on each of these stories the flats in each corners were two-bedroom
00:38:24 flats in each corners were two-bedroom flats and the remaining two one on each side of the core were one-bedroom flats reinforced concrete cross walls and floors separated each flats on level 4 to level 23 therefore each flat was
00:38:38 to level 23 therefore each flat was enclosed in fire resistant construction this is known as compartment ation and I would further describe this concept later on was in within the central core was a common Lobby that provided access
00:38:51 was a common Lobby that provided access to each of the flats this lovie also provided access to the residential lifts and the only means of escape stairs the single escape stairs this Lobby was a
00:39:03 single escape stairs this Lobby was a separate compartment to the flats and enclosed within its own fire resistant concrete walls the original smoke control system used automatic vents on
00:39:14 control system used automatic vents on the north wall of the lobby to exactly excuse me to exhaust smoke into smoke smoke exhaust shafts on the north side with fresh air being supplied from fresh
00:39:26 with fresh air being supplied from fresh air shafts through automatic vents on the South Ward of the lobby these smoke and fresh air fans were provided for firefighters to operate if required the
00:39:40 firefighters to operate if required the basement has been used since 1974 as a plant space for the various electrical gas water and heating systems in the building with multiple services shafts
00:39:52 building with multiple services shafts rising up from the basement through every story in the tower level 24 is roof level this level had a fully enclosed
00:40:02 enclosed space in the central portion of the story with an open walkway around the perimeter of the roof a ladder was also provided to the roof of this main plant
00:40:13 provided to the roof of this main plant enclosure there at the roof of the plant enclosure was located the outlets from the flues from the basement gas boilers the outputs from the smoke control
00:40:24 the outputs from the smoke control system the outlets from the lift motor room and lift shaft ventilation systems the permanently open vent provided at the top of the stairs the output vents
00:40:36 the top of the stairs the output vents to the waste pipe starts serving each of the flats on each of the floors this ends my explanation of grand vitara and its surrounding area as it was designed
00:40:47 its surrounding area as it was designed and constructed between 1967 and 1974
00:41:20 I will now set out the fire safety requirements for high-rise residential buildings in England and doing so address specifically the design requirement to provide a stay put
00:41:31 requirement to provide a stay put strategy I will explain how it is designed and how it is intended to operate after a short break and the second part of this presentation I will then explain each of the active and
00:41:43 then explain each of the active and passive fire protection measures required to create the safety condition the state foot strategy building fire safety is dealt with through the requirements of the bills and
00:41:54 requirements of the bills and regulations the building regulations state that the requirements shall not require anything to be done except for the purpose of securing reasonable standards of health and safety for
00:42:06 standards of health and safety for persons in or about buildings and any others who may be affected by buildings or matters connected with buildings the Building Regulations contains a series
00:42:18 Building Regulations contains a series of requirements they are all listed on this slide fire safety requirements are dealt with in Part B of the building regulations Part B fire safety the building
00:42:30 Part B fire safety the building regulations make clear that approved document b fire safety is approved by the secretary of state for the purposes of the 2000 regulations approved document b is therefore what i refer to
00:42:43 document b is therefore what i refer to as the stuff to treat guidance document in my report and in this presentation fire safety requirements are considered by means of five specific requirements
00:42:54 by means of five specific requirements I've reproduced each one on each of the next five slides B one deals with means of warning and escape the building shall be designed and constructed so that
00:43:05 be designed and constructed so that there are appropriate provisions for the early warning of fire and appropriate means of escape and case of fire from the building to a place of safety outside the build
00:43:16 outside the build take one of being safely and effectively used at all material times requirement b2 deals with the requirements to inhibit internal fire spreads as it
00:43:28 inhibit internal fire spreads as it relates to the internal linings of the building requirement b3 deals with further requirements for internal fire spread as relates to the structural
00:43:40 spread as relates to the structural stability of the building subdividing a building with fire resistant construction and preventing the unseen spread of fire and smoke within concealed spaces the requirement b4
00:43:53 concealed spaces the requirement b4 makes requirements regarding external fire spread and specifically that the external walls of the building shall adequately resist the spread of fire over the wall and from one building to
00:44:05 over the wall and from one building to another having regard to the height use our position of the building it remains it makes requirements for the fire performance of the roof of the building
00:44:16 requirement b5 the fifth and last of these building requirements deals with the requirements for access and facilities for the fire services specifically it requires that the
00:44:27 specifically it requires that the building shall be designed and constructed so as to provide reasonable facilities to assist firefighters and the protection of life further it requires that reasonable provision shall
00:44:39 requires that reasonable provision shall be made within the sight of the building to enable fire appliances to gain access to the building
00:44:51 there are three other general requirements but specifically relation to fire safety first of these three is the requirement to provide fire safety information regulation 38 this requires
00:45:05 information regulation 38 this requires the person carrying out the building work to give fire safety information to the responsible person for that building no later than the date of completion of the work and as were reproduced on this
00:45:17 the work and as were reproduced on this slide the responsible person is the person who owns or controls the building the required fire safety information to be provided is defined in the building
00:45:28 be provided is defined in the building regulations as information relating to the design and construction of the building which will assist the responsible person operate and maintain the building with reasonable safety this
00:45:41 the building with reasonable safety this is for any building where the regulatory reform fire safety order applies this is the legislation that provides for fire safety duties when buildings are
00:45:52 safety duties when buildings are completed and occupied the building regulations relate to design and construction stages only there is a further requirement for any building to
00:46:03 further requirement for any building to which the regulatory reform fire safety order will apply once that building is occupied that is a requirement to make a full plan submission this means
00:46:14 full plan submission this means providing a description of the proposed building work and any other plans necessary to show that the work would comply with regulations and the final
00:46:25 comply with regulations and the final requirement is the requirement of the local authority to provide a completion certificate for buildings to which the regulatory reform fire safety order will apply I note the requirement for a local
00:46:38 apply I note the requirement for a local authority to ascertain after taking all reasonable steps that the relevant requirements specified in the certificate have been Sasha but the relevant requirements mean the
00:46:50 but the relevant requirements mean the requirements of regulation 38 regarding the required fire safety information being provided to the responsible person and the five requirements of Part B I note also that the building regulations
00:47:03 note also that the building regulations currently states that such a certificate is not conclusive evidence that the requirements specified have been complied with these are the requirements
00:47:14 complied with these are the requirements under the building regulations I would like now to draw your attention to approved Optima B for fire safety which is approved as I said by the Secretary of State for the purposes of what's
00:47:27 of State for the purposes of what's called practical guidance with respect to the requirements contained in the building regulations therefore approved document b communicates practical guidance for the
00:47:38 communicates practical guidance for the five fire safety requirements b1 to b5 inclusive I noted acknowledges that there may well be alternative ways of achieving compliance with the requirements I have no evidence that
00:47:50 requirements I have no evidence that such an alternative approach was considered in matters relation to grant for Tara and will therefore not mention the concept of an alternative approach again I would refer to this statutory
00:48:02 again I would refer to this statutory guidance document approved document b just as the building regulations directly connect design and construction related duties to the regulatory reform
00:48:13 related duties to the regulatory reform fire safety order so too does the approve document make that clear the approved document b states for blocks of flats the regulatory reform fire safety
00:48:26 flats the regulatory reform fire safety order applies to the common parts of blocks of flats only it advises it would be useful for designers to carry out a preliminary fire risk assessment of the
00:48:38 preliminary fire risk assessment of the building as part of the design process I tied this fire risk assessment can then be used in the building regulations and can be used to assist the fire
00:48:49 and can be used to assist the fire safety enforcing authority in providing advice on any additional provisions that may be necessary in the occupied building
00:48:57 building however for high-rise residential buildings the Housing Act 2005 also applies and exists in parallel with the regulatory reform fire safety order
00:49:08 regulatory reform fire safety order section 3 of the Housing Act - requires no per housing authorities to keep housing conditions in their area under review and to investigate and take action against hazards that may be
00:49:20 action against hazards that may be present fire is explicitly referenced as a relevant hazard in Section 10 of the Act where fire hazards are identified in the common parts of flats the Act
00:49:31 the common parts of flats the Act requires the local Housing Authority to consult the local Fire Authority for possible before taking action it is important to note that the Housing Act 2004 it states the common parts of a
00:49:45 2004 it states the common parts of a building include the structure and the exterior of the building before I explained the state foot strategy it's important to note that the term stay puts is not used anywhere in approved
00:49:57 puts is not used anywhere in approved document b it states the fire is generally in a flat there is no reliance on external rescue measures in section 8 provide a high degree of compartment
00:50:08 provide a high degree of compartment ation and therefore a low probability of fire spread beyond the flat of origin so that simultaneous evacuation of the building is unlikely to be necessary and although fires may occur in the
00:50:21 and although fires may occur in the common parts of the building the materials and construction used there should prevent the fabric from being involved because of the immediate vicinity it further states these
00:50:33 vicinity it further states these provisions assume that in the design of the building reliance should not be placed on external rescue by the Fire and Rescue Service nor should it be based on
00:50:44 Service nor should it be based on sumption that the Fire and Rescue Service will attend an instant within a given time this approved document has been prepared on the basis that in an
00:50:55 been prepared on the basis that in an emergency the occupants of any part of a building should be able to escape safely without any external assistance approved document b refers for means of escape
00:51:06 document b refers for means of escape from flats to a british standard british standards double v double a two part one
00:51:14 which is called fire precautions in the design construction and use of buildings code of practice for residential buildings this is no longer current but
00:51:25 buildings this is no longer current but remains cited in the building regulations it is now superseded by british standard triple 91 called fire safety in the design management and use of residential
00:51:37 design management and use of residential buildings BS triple nine one does refer to the stay-put strategy and in four specific locations first regarding escape which is almost identical to the
00:51:49 escape which is almost identical to the text used and approved document b it goes further and refers to occasions where operational conditions are such that the Fire and Rescue Service decide to evacuate the building this is
00:52:01 decide to evacuate the building this is the only reference in the standard and no specific provisions are made in order to enable the communication of this change or the management of this change with regard to the provision of active
00:52:13 with regard to the provision of active and passive fire protection measures within the building secondly BS triple nine one refers to the need for additional protection to the staircase by the provision of smoke
00:52:24 the staircase by the provision of smoke control because of the statehood strategy thirdly regarding an increase in fire resistance periods for structure for the occupants of other dwellings remain
00:52:35 of other dwellings remain in place and finally it specifically references the stay-put strategy regarding the fire performance of the external face of the building it says flames spread over or within an
00:52:49 it says flames spread over or within an external wall construction should be controlled to avoid creating a route for rapid fire spread by bypassing compartment floors or walls this is
00:53:00 compartment floors or walls this is particularly important it says wear a stay put strategy is in place and I would like to conclude with a reminder from the very first british standard code of practice for flats referred to
00:53:12 code of practice for flats referred to as cp3 wear in 1962 it provided the first explanation of the statehood strategy where occupants if they choose remain safely on their own floor and
00:53:23 remain safely on their own floor and occupants on the floor on which the fire occurs and in some circumstances those floors in the immediate vicinity of the fire should be free to reach safety in another part of the building via the
00:53:35 another part of the building via the staircase since that time a total building evacuation has not been provided for when designing the active and passive fire protection measures I
00:53:46 and passive fire protection measures I have sat around each of the statutory guidance document approved document b and the british standards since 1962 because they all provide the same
00:53:57 because they all provide the same requirement for active and passive fire protection measures in high-rise residential buildings I note that while stay-put is directly referenced in the British standards no such mention of us
00:54:08 British standards no such mention of us nor what it relies upon is provided in the approved document beam I will refer to those published guidance documents at times throughout my presentations today these published guidance documents are
00:54:20 these published guidance documents are all matters of building regulations they are not matters of fire brigade policy
00:54:38 the stay-put strategy during a single flat fire the occupants of that flat evacuate and all other occupants are safe if they remain where they are the
00:54:50 safe if they remain where they are the concept of being safe to remain where they are during a fire is the stay-put strategy it is the single safety condition provided fire through the statutory guidance document approved
00:55:02 statutory guidance document approved document thee and all of versions of the pressure standards for flats to date it is a single safety condition but with multiple layers of protection provided these layers of protection or safety
00:55:14 these layers of protection or safety layers are provided through the required active and passive fire protection measures so the building construction including its external walls the internal compartment ation in the
00:55:26 internal compartment ation in the building and the structural stability system of the building all the act of fire protection measures such as smoke control to the staircase and one of the other layers of safety is
00:55:37 and one of the other layers of safety is something I have chosen to refer to in my phase 1 report as defender place firefighter since 1962 cp3 states the guiding principle in the
00:55:49 cp3 states the guiding principle in the recommendations which follow is safety of life in securing this means of escape construction and firefighting all play a part
00:55:58 part section 701 goes on to state in high blocks of flats it is essential that provision should be made to assist the fire service and applying water to a
00:56:09 fire service and applying water to a fire as early as possible the need to apply water early in a fire and the need for the fire being extinguished early are required of the fire brigade this form of firefighting is provided for by
00:56:21 form of firefighting is provided for by means of the active and passive fire protection measures in the building - so the building construction its active fire safety systems and the firefighting in combination provide the safety of
00:56:34 in combination provide the safety of life and are the foundation of the state put strategy defend and place firefighting also rely the high degree of compartment ation in a high-rise residential building because
00:56:45 a high-rise residential building because it is this compartment ation enables the single flat fire event upon which the stay-put strategy relies this compartment ation is the very basis of design
00:56:56 design I will now narrate an explanation of how the stay-put strategy is designed to function in a fire this is in order to explain how the design of the active and
00:57:08 explain how the design of the active and passive fire protection measures which includes the external wall fire response provides the safety condition required which is for the building residents and for the firefighters the content of this
00:57:21 for the firefighters the content of this section of my presentation is drawn from section 3.2 3.3 3.4 and section 18 of my report
00:57:37 in the event of a fire in a flat a fire detection and alarm system should be present in the flat and raise the alarm for occupants in that flat only no alarm
00:57:48 for occupants in that flat only no alarm will sound anywhere else in the building the fire brigade will not be alerted to automatically once alerted to the fire the occupants should leave the flat with the door shut behind them to support
00:58:00 the door shut behind them to support this first stage of evacuation from the flat itself a protected entrance hall is required within the flat in a single stair building the person from within the flat on fire must first escaped
00:58:13 the flat on fire must first escaped through the common lobby over to the stair entrance a range of fire protection measures are provided to protect the occupants when traveling through the lobby fire resistant walls
00:58:25 through the lobby fire resistant walls around the flats of fire origin fire resistant walls around the protected lobby and arrange the protected stairs fire doors in the relevant fire resistant walls a smoke control system
00:58:38 resistant walls a smoke control system extracting heat and smoke from the protective lobby designed to prevent smoke from being able to penetrate into the stairs but providing some local protection in the lobby two controls are
00:58:50 protection in the lobby two controls are materials in the common lobby to prevent rapid fire spread through this part of the escape route in the event fire breaks out of the flat compartment
00:59:01 breaks out of the flat compartment people in adjoining dwellings on the same floor do not automatically evacuate they have received no alarm or signal to evacuate the design is focused therefore
00:59:13 evacuate the design is focused therefore on containing a fire within the flat of fire origin creating a single flat fire event this is provided through the fire resisting walls and floors in that flat
00:59:25 resisting walls and floors in that flat the final side of the fire resistant box is the external wall in accordance with the building regulations the construction of the external walls are
00:59:36 construction of the external walls are required to adequately resist the spread of fire therefore the people in adjoining flats on the for who rely on the same horizontal escape rate through the lobby are
00:59:47 escape rate through the lobby are protected because the design intent is that the fire stays within this one compartment or a box around the flats everything is invested in preventing the
00:59:58 everything is invested in preventing the internal spread of fire the required external wall of fire performance based on adequately resisting the spread of fire is intended to prevent an external
01:00:09 fire is intended to prevent an external fire scenario beyond the single flat on fire
01:00:13 fire equally people on the floors above the floor where the flat fire has started are also to be protected from the single flat fire below them again by the
01:00:24 flat fire below them again by the measure is provided to contain the fire in one flat again through the compartment ation to the flats lobby and stairs along with the lobby smoke control and again the external wall and
01:00:36 control and again the external wall and the requirements for the construction of that external wall should also provide protection to the people in the flats above the flattened fire
01:00:51 a person requiring assistance will also need to escape from their flat to the lodging once they are out in the lobby they are now separated from the immediate effects of the fire in the
01:01:03 immediate effects of the fire in the flux
01:01:03 flux however protection measures for the lobby are not intended to provide indefinite protection and it may not be safe for a person to remain within the lobby at this stage the choice is
01:01:16 lobby at this stage the choice is available to a person requiring assistance to escape our to escape using the stairs if they are able to use an evacuation lift with assistance from building management if such assistance
01:01:28 building management if such assistance is available to use the firefighting lift with assistance through the fire brigade to be carried down the stairs by firefighters building management staff or potentially their neighbors there is
01:01:40 or potentially their neighbors there is no provision required in the statutory guidance for residential buildings unlike other building types to provide equipment for those persons so there is
01:01:51 equipment for those persons so there is no provision made for them to either contact building management should they even be present in a building nor to communicate directly with the fire service present in the building the
01:02:02 service present in the building the person can only make a personal 999 call in other building types refuges with communication devices are required
01:02:15 once occupants of the flat on fire have made their way through the lobby the final part of their evacuation is downstairs and once down the stairs they should now phone 999 and alert the fire
01:02:27 should now phone 999 and alert the fire brigade to fire the protection provider two stairs is intended to physically prevent the penetration of smoke and fire into the stair enclosure by
01:02:38 fire into the stair enclosure by provision of fire resistant construction including the stair door prevent smoke from entering the stair by provision of fire resistant lobbies including the flat entrance fire door and smoke
01:02:50 flat entrance fire door and smoke ventilation systems and so also prevent the spread of fire and smoke blocking use of the protected stair for any residents of both the fire floor the
01:03:01 residents of both the fire floor the protection measures in the lobby of the stair however are also provided to create a safe working environment for the fire brigade the fire brigade to require this safe working environment in
01:03:13 require this safe working environment in order to be able to access the building travel up to the flat on fire and suppress the fire in that flat earlier they also rely on the safe working environment in the lobby and the stairs
01:03:25 environment in the lobby and the stairs to allow them time and to protect a group to travel to rescue any residence in what is expected to be the immediate vicinity of the flat on fire nothing
01:03:37 vicinity of the flat on fire nothing more extensive than that is provided for through the building design requirements for the staple strategy the requirements of the building regulations to provide active and passive fire protection
01:03:48 active and passive fire protection measures are relied on by all building occupants during a fire all residents and all firefighters since the first code of practice for fire safety and flux was it was
01:04:00 fire safety and flux was it was published it states reliance on such appliances as manipulative types of escape our mobile ladders is considered unsatisfactory high-rise residential
01:04:11 unsatisfactory high-rise residential buildings must therefore be designed on the basis that firefighting does not occur from outside this concept has been carried
01:04:20 carried into all modern design codes where the regulations require provisions only for internal firefighter in high-rise residential buildings therefore the building regulations
01:04:32 therefore the building regulations require adequate access to buildings for firefighters and their vehicles only at the entry point to the building and nowhere else around the building the
01:04:43 nowhere else around the building the provisions made for firefighting are also based entirely on an internal fire occurring by design these provisions are made on the assumption that a single
01:04:54 made on the assumption that a single internal flat fire and contained within the compartment will occur the construction of the external wall to this compartment is to adequately resist the spread of fire such that mitigating
01:05:07 the spread of fire such that mitigating a spreading external fire is not incorporated into any of the other protection measures in the building as provided for the firefighters the external fire scenario not happening is
01:05:20 external fire scenario not happening is critical to maintaining this box around each flat the high degree of compartment ation is also required for for safe firefighting in high-rise residential
01:05:31 firefighting in high-rise residential buildings therefore on the basis of internal firefighting only a priest document be apprised for a suitable road access and a parking space for a single
01:05:42 access and a parking space for a single fire vehicle within 18 metres of the firefighter entrance and the fire main Inlet
01:05:48 Inlet it is from here the Fire Brigades will prepare for internal firefighting operations
01:06:00 once inside the building the following is provided for firefighters a firefighting stair a firefighting lift which is a lift can be operated under
01:06:11 which is a lift can be operated under solo fire brigade control and has safety features to permit us to be used during a fire a firefighting main a dedicated system for conveying firefighting water
01:06:23 system for conveying firefighting water to the upper floors of a building a protected lobby on every floor including a smoke control system a protected space between the firefighting stairs and door flowers the design requirements provide
01:06:38 flowers the design requirements provide for the following firefighting process uh arrival the fire brigade will secure a water supply for firefighting from outside the building by means of the required water hydrant in close
01:06:50 required water hydrant in close proximity to the building the firefighting teams move towards the building and to enter the statutory guidance provides them with the firefighting lift with in a protected lobby the firefighters can approach the
01:07:03 lobby the firefighters can approach the firefighting lift and take us under their direct control the lift is then used by fire crews to carry their equipment such as hoses tools and breathing apparatus and by design is
01:07:15 breathing apparatus and by design is assumed to go to the lobby two floors below the fire this Lobby becomes the bridgehead which is an area used to muster firefighters and their equipment this Lobby is designed to protect the
01:07:28 this Lobby is designed to protect the firefighters from fire and smoke on the fire floor above I maintain a safe air environment there that is air safe to breathe without the protection of breathing apparatus firefighters will be
01:07:41 breathing apparatus firefighters will be tasked with approaching the flats containing the fire and extinguishing it from within the spare they connect their fire hose and branch into the building fire may
01:07:54 firefighters used to protect its tear to walk up to the fire floor with the charged hose they are provided with sufficient water by means of the
01:08:05 sufficient water by means of the building fire main provisions and this includes the provision to charge a second hose as may be required to protect those firefighters who are now in the flat on fire and suppressing that
01:08:17 in the flat on fire and suppressing that fire there the firefighters are now operating within what they termed the fire sector one example of this is a fire sector which includes the fire floor of the floor above and below the
01:08:30 floor of the floor above and below the active and passive fire protection measures are required to prevent a fire from significantly spreading beyond a single flood in the fire sector and I have found it useful to understand how
01:08:43 have found it useful to understand how compartment ation is so important when firefighters fit the building into sectors so firefighters rely on the compartment ation and the smoke control to the lobby to also set up any search
01:08:56 to the lobby to also set up any search sectors needed above a fire sector they rely on the protected stairs and lobby to move safely to any of these required search sectors they rely on the
01:09:08 search sectors they rely on the compartment ation and smoke control within the building to set up what they called the lobby sector which is below the fire sector and used for coordination of all their required logistics again they rely on the
01:09:20 logistics again they rely on the protected stairs and lobbies to move safely up and down to the Navi sector
01:09:29 finally the firefighting lifts are provided so they can be safely used during the fire to transport firefighters and their equipments to a floor of their choice two final points
01:09:40 floor of their choice two final points the fire protection measures must be constructed and then maintained to ensure they're fit for purpose in the event of fire the state put strategy is provided through design construction and
01:09:52 provided through design construction and ongoing maintenance all building occupants including the fire brigade rely on us in the event of a fire it is the single safety condition provider fire in the design of high-rise
01:10:03 fire in the design of high-rise residential buildings in England the statutory guidance makes no provision within the building for anything other than a stay put strategy there is no means of warning nor a means to
01:10:14 means of warning nor a means to communicate the need to increase the areas to be evacuated as is currently regulated for other building uses as I explained in my report I consider the building stay put
01:10:26 I consider the building stay put strategy to fail to 126 a.m. and that all events after that time occurred in the context of the total loss of the only safety condition provided for thank
01:10:37 only safety condition provided for thank you so we were going to take care 15-minute break yes that would be convenient and we'll stop now for well
01:10:50 convenient and we'll stop now for well let's say resumed at 11:15 sharp all right thank you very much
01:11:04 you
01:29:19 you
01:29:46 okay yes dr. Lane when you're ready thank you okay I'm just about to start the second part about fire safety and I rise in table three point one of my
01:30:00 rise in table three point one of my phase 1 report I have provided a full list of the active and passive fire protection measures required through the building regulations for high-rise blocks of flats a passive fire
01:30:12 blocks of flats a passive fire protection system is one that is an inherent part of the building construction and so does not require any further tire action or intervention to
01:30:23 further tire action or intervention to perform its intended purpose by contrast an active fire protection measure is one that must undertake an action of some kinds either automatically or manually
01:30:34 kinds either automatically or manually in order to perform its intended purpose active protection measures typically also require a power supply in order to perform their function I will first
01:30:47 perform their function I will first describe the required passive fire protection measures buildings are required to be subdivided into fire resistant compartments to prevent the spread of fire these compartments are
01:30:59 spread of fire these compartments are constructed from walls floors and fire doors required to have fire resistance approved document b defines fire resistance as follows the ability of a
01:31:11 resistance as follows the ability of a component or construction of a building to satisfy for a stated period of time some are all of the appropriate criteria specified in the relevant standard tests
01:31:27 these compartments are far more fire resistant boxes are required to multiple locations the box and closing each flats the box enclosing every lobby the box
01:31:39 the box enclosing every lobby the box enclosing any vertical or horizontal shafts the box enclose and the escape stir these internal compartment walls and floors protect the occupants of the
01:31:52 and floors protect the occupants of the this is achieved by preventing the fire from spreading to adjacent flats or to shared public spaces through the provision of fire resisting walls and floors and protecting any openings in
01:32:06 floors and protecting any openings in those walls and floors compartment walls and floors are fire tested to demonstrate their ability to prevent the park the passage of fire antes as well
01:32:17 park the passage of fire antes as well as the structure of the walls and floors buildings also need to contain a variety of different services such as cables ducts and pipes these services need to
01:32:30 ducts and pipes these services need to be able to pass through the building in order for the mechanical services to operate as intended openings are therefore created to allow the services to pass through these openings need to
01:32:43 to pass through these openings need to be sealed to prevent a spread of fire through any required fire resistant compartment enclosure if a fire separating elements is to be effective every joint or imperfection of
01:32:56 effective every joint or imperfection of fit or opening to allow services to pass through the element should be adequately protected by ceiling or fire stopping so that the fire resistance of the element is not impaired approved document b
01:33:10 is not impaired approved document b defines a fire stop as a seal provided to close an imperfection of fit or design tolerance between elements or components to restrict the passage of
01:33:21 components to restrict the passage of fire and smoke fire doors are also a form of protection to an opening in fire resistant compartment enclosures a fire
01:33:32 resistant compartment enclosures a fire door is defined in British Standard 841 2 as a door which together with its frame and hardware as installed in a building is intended when closed to
01:33:45 building is intended when closed to restrict the passage of fire or smoke and is capable of meeting specified performance criteria to those ends as with the tested performance of
01:33:56 with the tested performance of compartment walls and floor and fire Stockton there are also required methods for demonstration the specific performance criteria sets for fire doors through fire testing appendix
01:34:11 fire doors through fire testing appendix I of my fate phase one reports identifies five specific types of fire door that are critical to maintaining the compartment ation required to support the stay-put strategy as well as
01:34:24 support the stay-put strategy as well as support the defendant place firefighter these are fire doors in a protected stair enclosure main flash entrance fire doors protected lift shaft fire doors
01:34:38 doors protected lift shaft fire doors the door is within the protected entrance hall in a flux doors into any fire protective service shafts moving to
01:34:51 fire protective service shafts moving to the external wall component of the enclosure to a flat
01:34:59 this image shows the external wall for me one side of the fire resistant box enclosing a flat regulation b4 requires
01:35:13 enclosing a flat regulation b4 requires the external walls are constructed so that the risk of ignition from an external source and the spread of fire over their surfaces is restricted by making provision for them to have low
01:35:25 making provision for them to have low rates of heat release this is dealt with in Section 12.5 of approved document b which states the external wall of the building should not provide a medium for
01:35:37 building should not provide a medium for fire spread if it is likely to be a risk to health or safety the use of combustible materials in the cladding system and extensive cavities may present such a risk in tall buildings
01:35:50 present such a risk in tall buildings external walls should either meets the guidance given in paragraphs twelve point six to twelve point nine of approved document b or meet the performance criteria given in the
01:36:02 performance criteria given in the building research establishment report called fire performance of external thermal insulation four walls of multi-story buildings for clouding systems using full-scale data from
01:36:15 systems using full-scale data from british standard 84 at 1/4 that report is referred to as br 135 hmm so taking each of paragraph twelve point six to twelve point nine in turn first section
01:36:28 twelve point nine in turn first section twelve point six of approved document b states the external surfaces of walls should meet the provisions of diagram forty section twelve point seven states
01:36:41 forty section twelve point seven states in a building with the story eighteen meters or more above ground level any insulation product filler material not including gasket sealants and similar
01:36:53 including gasket sealants and similar etc used in the external wall construction should be of limited combust ability and finally section twelve point eight and twelve point nine
01:37:04 twelve point eight and twelve point nine relate to cavity barriers the approved document b advisors the provisions necessary to restrict the spread of smoke and flames through cavities are broadly for the purpose of
01:37:17 cavities are broadly for the purpose of self dividing a cavities which could otherwise form a pathway around a fire separating elements and closing the edges of cavities therefore reducing the
01:37:30 edges of cavities therefore reducing the potential for unseen fire spread B subdividing extensive cavities in addition consideration should also be given to the construction and fixing of
01:37:42 given to the construction and fixing of cavity barriers provided for these purposes and the extent to which openings in them should be protected section 12.5 of approved document b
01:37:54 section 12.5 of approved document b states that as an alternative to following that guidance in twelve point six to twelve point nine as I have just set out the fire performance of the
01:38:05 set out the fire performance of the construction of external walls can be determined instead by reference to BR 135
01:38:12 135 this describes a fire test for external cladding systems so that they can be installed as close to typical end use conditions as possible and subject to a
01:38:24 conditions as possible and subject to a specific localized fire so either carrying out this test or complying with the guidance set out in the approved document b is intended to provide the
01:38:35 document b is intended to provide the required performance to the external wall of the flats that external wall should therefore be constructed so that the risk of ignition from an external
01:38:46 the risk of ignition from an external source and the spread of fire over its surface is restricted by making provision for the external wall materials to have low rates of heat release that is the provision made for
01:38:58 release that is the provision made for the external portion of the box around each but another passive fire protection measure is the provision of an overall stability system for the building during
01:39:10 stability system for the building during a fire I present here the structural form of grant so tyre as an example I described earlier this morning Florist walls beams and columns or
01:39:23 Florist walls beams and columns or contributed to the designs for a stability system approved document b states that the load-bearing elements of the structure of the building must be
01:39:35 the structure of the building must be capable of withstanding the effects of fire for an appropriate period without loss of stability approved document b defines this as resistance to collapse the ability to maintain load-bearing
01:39:48 the ability to maintain load-bearing capacity during a fire for concrete buildings like grant will tire the structural fire resistance of the structure is achieved through the depth
01:39:59 structure is achieved through the depth and thickness of the member and a specific depth of concrete insulating the embedded steel reinforcing bars this combination of concrete and the
01:40:11 combination of concrete and the reinforcement bars provide the stability system structure of fire resistance is a passive fire protection measure because it requires no power to activate and
01:40:22 it requires no power to activate and once installed remains an intrinsic part of the building safety conditional
01:40:31 approved document b states the choice of materials for walls and ceilings can significantly affect the spread of a fire and its rate of growth even though
01:40:42 fire and its rate of growth even though they are not likely to be the materials first ignited it is particularly important in circulation spaces where linings may offer the main means by
01:40:53 linings may offer the main means by which fire spreads and where rapid spread is most likely to prevent occupants from escaping therefore for a means of escape to comply with
01:41:04 means of escape to comply with regulation b1 capable of being safely and effectively used at all material times it is required that the surfaces of walls and ceilings within protected
01:41:16 of walls and ceilings within protected lobbies and stairs are materials that restrict fire spread additionally in accordance with Clause 5.19 firefighting stairs must be constructed of materials
01:41:28 stairs must be constructed of materials of limit
01:41:29 of limit bust ability I have described the passive fire protection measures they are considered to be materials products and structures they're required fire
01:41:42 and structures they're required fire performance and how to achieve that performance is then addressed in Appendix A of the approved document b appendix a describes each of the different classes of performance and
01:41:54 different classes of performance and each of the appropriate methods of tests Appendix A States in such cases the material product or structure should a
01:42:06 material product or structure should a be in accordance with the specification or a design which has been shown by tests to be capable of meeting that performance or B have been assessed from
01:42:18 performance or B have been assessed from test evidence against appropriate standards or by using relevant design guides as meeting that performance or see where tables of notional performance
01:42:30 see where tables of notional performance are included in this document conform with an appropriate specification given in these tables therefore the fire resistance of walls
01:42:41 therefore the fire resistance of walls floors and doors are determined using a standard furnace I present in this image a furnace designed to undertake standard fire resisting testing on floor systems
01:42:55 fire resisting testing on floor systems this image shows a modern furnace test of a door to determine its fire resistance the gas temperatures within the furnace must follow the temperature
01:43:08 the furnace must follow the temperature with time profile shown here reaching 1,000 degrees Celsius after approximately an hour and a half there are a multitude of reaction to fire
01:43:20 are a multitude of reaction to fire tests as applied to the performance of the materials forming the external wall which I have explained in substantial detail in appendix F of my phase 1 report
01:43:32 report finally I present three images replicated from the BR 135 guide which shows how it explains the concept of fire spread through external
01:43:44 concept of fire spread through external wall cavities and then to photos from the top from the fire test it represents PSA for one-four these photos are a before-and-after example of a cladding
01:43:57 before-and-after example of a cladding fire test it is essential that there are no fundamental differences between the tested construction and the design for
01:44:08 tested construction and the design for construction of an external wall this is also true of any fire resistant feature such as fire doors to such fundamental differences mean the test evidence can
01:44:21 differences mean the test evidence can no longer be relied upon to demonstrate compliance with the provisions made an approved document b i will now move on to active protection measures an active
01:44:35 to active protection measures an active fire protection measure is one that must undertake an action of some kind and typically requires a power supply as I said earlier in appendix G 2.3 of my
01:44:46 said earlier in appendix G 2.3 of my phase 1 report I described the requirements for residential detection and alarm systems the design guidance in the approved document b is to provide
01:44:59 the approved document b is to provide independent fire detection and alarm systems within each flat and for the purposes of raising the alarm in that flat only the minimum requirement for
01:45:12 flat only the minimum requirement for locations of detectors within the flat is within the protected entrance hall this is intended to sound an alarm when smoke first starts to enter the
01:45:23 smoke first starts to enter the protected entrance hall in the flat because this is the escape route within the flat the intention is that occupants of that flat should have sufficient time to evacuate before the entrance hall
01:45:36 to evacuate before the entrance hall becomes impossible due to fire our smoke under certain circumstances a detection system may need to be enhanced by installing additional detectors
01:45:49 installing additional detectors living room at the kitchen or in all of the rooms and the flats where more than one detector and alarm unit is provided in a flats they must be interlinked so that all of
01:46:00 they must be interlinked so that all of the units sound an alarm on activation of any one device approved document b section 5.30 six states that all escape
01:46:12 section 5.30 six states that all escape routes should have adequate artificial item which illuminates the route if the main supply fails for a high-rise block of flats the common lovie and stair
01:46:23 of flats the common lovie and stair shaft require emergency lighten emergency lighting is connected to the main lighting circuit in the building for normal power but it is also provided
01:46:34 for normal power but it is also provided with a backup battery installed within the light fitting with the capacity to run the lights for a minimum duration of three hours in case the mains supply fails the spacing of emergency lighting
01:46:48 fails the spacing of emergency lighting is controlled to give a minimum light level over all parts of the escape route in the event remains power failure smoke
01:47:00 in the event remains power failure smoke control is an important provision to protect escape routes approved document b states it is probable that some smoke will get into the common car door or
01:47:12 will get into the common car door or lobby from a fire and a flat if only because the entrance door will be opened when the occupants escape the flat there for a section 2.25 of approved document
01:47:24 for a section 2.25 of approved document b states that there should therefore be some means of ventilating the common corridors are nabis to control smoke and so protects the common stairs this
01:47:35 so protects the common stairs this offers additional protection to that provided by the fire doors to the stair there are two basic types of smoke control system identified in section 2
01:47:47 control system identified in section 2 of proof document VIII these are a natural smoke ventilation and as an alternative to the natural vent provisions mechanical ventilation to the
01:47:59 provisions mechanical ventilation to the stair or Lobby the approved document b refers on to other guidance available for the design of smoke control systems using pressure differentials this
01:48:11 using pressure differentials this guidance is BS en 1 to 101 part 6 this diagram shows a simplified section through a building a fire has started in
01:48:25 through a building a fire has started in a flat however the smoke has not yet passed into the common lobby and therefore the ventilation system has not yet activators when smoke enters the
01:48:36 yet activators when smoke enters the common lobby either by leaking through the door or if the door is opened during an escape the smoke ventilation system is activated by smoke detectors in the lobby all types of smoke control systems
01:48:49 lobby all types of smoke control systems then have common activation process the vents on the fire floor only remain open all other vents close the vent at the
01:49:01 all other vents close the vent at the top of the stair opens the fans if present in the system startup if the system uses natural ventilation then
01:49:12 system uses natural ventilation then fans are not required in this type of system hot smoke rises up a smoke shaft under the effects of natural buoyancy and vents to outside above the roof of
01:49:25 and vents to outside above the roof of the building a chimney factors created pulling air and smoke out of the lobby an alternative to the natural system is
01:49:37 an alternative to the natural system is a mechanical ventilation system this type of system can be designed to use the same kind of shaft as the natural system however it relies on an extract
01:49:48 system however it relies on an extract fan at the top of the shaft pulling smoke into the lobby and up into the shaft the extract fan is signaled to start at the same time as the lobby
01:50:00 start at the same time as the lobby vents are signaled to open from activation of a smoke detector in the being protected there is an alternative to this mechanical ventilation system -
01:50:13 to this mechanical ventilation system - this is called a pressurization system the difference is rather than pulling the smoke out from the lobby the fan instead pushes air down and into the
01:50:24 instead pushes air down and into the stair enclosure the intention is this air prevents the smoke of the library lobby entering the stairs the smoke in the lobby is then either pushed up a
01:50:35 the lobby is then either pushed up a shaft provided for that purpose or is pushed out of the building through some other opening such as open windows
01:50:47 regardless of the type all smoke control systems are designed to operate for a fire on one floor only this floor is normally selected automatically by the
01:50:58 normally selected automatically by the smoke control system programming which relies on the location of the detector that has first activated in addition a manual override for use by the fire
01:51:09 manual override for use by the fire brigade may also be provided on each floor to manually select the floor to be extracted from the fire brigade may also change where the system is running by
01:51:21 change where the system is running by using controls directly on the main control panel these panels are typically located at the ground floor where the fire brigade entered the building as
01:51:33 fire brigade entered the building as well as the building requirement to provide a safer environment for the fire brigade using smoke control the brigade have their own equipment to protective clothing and breathing apparatus
01:51:45 clothing and breathing apparatus breathing apparatus is required for firefighters to pass beyond the safe air environment of the bridgehead added to the fire sector the building regulations
01:51:56 the fire sector the building regulations requires buildings to incorporate adequate smoke protection to the stairs and lobbies such that this equipment is not required until the firefighters and
01:52:07 not required until the firefighters and teams or advance into the fire floor fire fighting lifts our lifts with specific protection and control mechanisms to permit them to be
01:52:18 control mechanisms to permit them to be used safely by the fire brigade during a fire
01:52:22 fire this figure identifies the key features of a martyr and firefighting lifts the protection measures for firefighting lifts I will be describing in more detail later on but it is because of
01:52:36 detail later on but it is because of these protection measures to firefighting lifts that approve document the also states where a firefighting lift has been provided to satisfy requirement b5 this can be utilized as
01:52:48 requirement b5 this can be utilized as part of a management plan for evacuating disabled people any such plan should include a contingency for when the fire and rescue services arrive I will
01:52:59 and rescue services arrive I will discuss this again later
01:53:04 fire mains are installed in a building and equipped with vowels etc so that the fire brigade may connect hoses for water to fight fires inside the building fire
01:53:17 to fight fires inside the building fire mains may be of the dry type which are normally empty and are supplied with water through hose from a fire brigade pumping appliance outside the building
01:53:32 alternatively they may be of the wet type where they are kept full of water and supplies from tanks and poles from inside the building there should be a facility to allow a wet system to be
01:53:45 facility to allow a wet system to be replenished from the pumping appliance in an emergency also regarding a dry main there are two limiting factors in this system the ability of the fire
01:53:56 this system the ability of the fire engine pump to raise water up the building and the amount of pressure that the pipe being used can withstand with the dry rising main the further up the
01:54:07 the dry rising main the further up the building the firefighters are the lower the water pressure of at the outlets this is because water crusher is required to push the pipe the water up the pipe against gravity the
01:54:20 water up the pipe against gravity the amount of water pressure that can be introduced into the pipe is limited by the strength of the pipe therefore eventually a height is reached where the water pressure that can be delivered by
01:54:33 water pressure that can be delivered by a dry Mane cannot effectively operate a firehose for this reason the statutory duct design guidance limits the use of dry mains to building's less than 50
01:54:44 dry mains to building's less than 50 metres and heights in a building which is 50 meters or more in height there is a requirement to provide a wet fire main the key differences in a wet fire main
01:54:56 the key differences in a wet fire main are a tank of water is provided within the building as a water supply for the system it does not require the fire service to connect the system to an
01:55:08 service to connect the system to an external hydrant a pump or set of pumps is provided within the building to pump water through the vertical pipe it does not need a fire service pump appliance
01:55:20 not need a fire service pump appliance the pumps are automatically controls to keep the fire main fields and pressurized with water at all times therefore water can be drawn at any
01:55:31 therefore water can be drawn at any floor by the fire service immediately there is no delay as occurs in a dry riser where the fire service must manually charge the fire main when they arrive at the fire the pumps and the
01:55:45 arrive at the fire the pumps and the pipes are designed to deliver the minimum pressure deemed required for effective firefighting at the highest floors of the building so a wet rising
01:55:56 floors of the building so a wet rising main reduces the time required for the fire service to secure firefighting water and more importantly is designed specifically to ensure adequate flow and
01:56:07 specifically to ensure adequate flow and pressure of water on every floor of the building performance of this main type does not worsen on the highest floors the standard for the fire main design
01:56:19 the standard for the fire main design British standards 9:0 states and section six point three point one but wet fire main systems are intended to supply two outlets at any
01:56:30 intended to supply two outlets at any one time therefore if any more than two hoses are used the water flow and pressure from any one outlets will be reduced the standard does not make any
01:56:41 reduced the standard does not make any specific statements on the number of firefighting jets a dry Mane is intended to support however as I have described the maximum pressure in the mane is limited by the ability of the pipe to
01:56:54 limited by the ability of the pipe to withstand the pressure being introduced by the fire pump appliance as more hoses draw water off the main the pressure and flow to each hose will drop fire mains
01:57:06 flow to each hose will drop fire mains are also designed for a single internal fire event whether the main is a dry or wet main the design guidance for the location of landing valves where the
01:57:18 location of landing valves where the fire brigade plug in to obtain water from is that they should be sited and their outlets directed such that access to them is unobstructed personnel can
01:57:31 to them is unobstructed personnel can safely lay out and charge hose lines before entering the fire compartment there is minimal risk of any discharge of water from the outlets coming into contact with lift controls and lift
01:57:44 contact with lift controls and lift communications equipment are flowing into the lift well there is minimal risk of exposure to fire from the accommodation if a door is open
01:57:56 accommodation if a door is open hoses can be connected charged and advanced into the accommodation without excessive kinking of the hose line or obstruction to fire doors and exit
01:58:07 obstruction to fire doors and exit routes in addition the location of the outlets presented in the design guidance has changed over to when Grand Vitara was built the guidance for high-rise blocks of flats was to
01:58:19 for high-rise blocks of flats was to place the rising main anchors in the common lobby the current guidance is for the rising main outlet to be positioned in the protected stair the firefighting
01:58:31 in the protected stair the firefighting hoses for the fire mains are not provided in the building nor through design but our fire brigades own equipment this ends my description of the active fire protection measures
01:58:45 finally the presence of these active and passive fire protection measures are intended to create a layered safety approach they provide the means for
01:58:56 approach they provide the means for early internal defend and place firefighting they provide the means to limit fire and smoke spread from a flat fire out to the lobby and help prevent fire and smoke
01:59:08 lobby and help prevent fire and smoke spread to the escape stair they create the high degree of compartment ation to support the stay-put strategy in high-rise residential buildings those layers of safety are required to prevent
01:59:21 layers of safety are required to prevent reliance on the fire and rescue services for safe evacuation are so clearly stated in the statutory guidance document in terms of reference for those layers of protection are to mitigate the
01:59:34 layers of protection are to mitigate the effects of a single flat fire with minor fire and smoke spread into the adjacent Lobby
01:59:40 Lobby those layers of safety are not designed to protect from a multi-story building envelope fire nor are they designed to protect from a series of internal flat fires occurring on multiple stories in a
01:59:52 fires occurring on multiple stories in a building such events are not considered as relevant design events in the current terms of reference for those layers of safety
02:00:02 safety [Applause]
02:00:20 that ends my more general presentations and I know you specifically speak about Grand Vitara for the rest of the day yes thank you very much
02:00:36 in this next part of my opening presentation I will provide a summary of works undertaken our grandfa tyre since the building was originally completed in 1974 I have provided a chronology in
02:00:51 1974 I have provided a chronology in appendix D 4 of my report of the design and construction of Gretel tyre as well as the timing of any significant modifications the items in this
02:01:02 modifications the items in this chronology as relate to refurbishment works on the tyre have been identified using records made available to me and specifically from planning applications
02:01:13 specifically from planning applications Building Regulations applications fire risk assessments and other contract documents including for example the health and safety file from the 2005
02:01:26 health and safety file from the 2005 lift replacement works I carried out a detailed review of works to Grantville tower since 1974 for two specific
02:01:37 tower since 1974 for two specific reasons first because I wanted to understand if any significant change to the original fire safety features have been made and second to understand the
02:01:49 been made and second to understand the dates of any such changes this was for the purposes of understanding the appropriate legislation and regulations as may have applied at the time of that
02:02:00 as may have applied at the time of that change this was important when analyzing the compliance requirements and so the performance requirements for the active and passive fire protection measures in
02:02:11 and passive fire protection measures in grant will tear the night of the fire it also helped me understand the range of legislation and regulation as applied to grant full turn and help me conclude on
02:02:22 grant full turn and help me conclude on part of any difference in requirements that range created as I stated in Section 3.4 of my preliminary phase 1 report
02:02:33 report in respect of war the fire safety measures I have investigators I have explained my understanding of what was required by the regulations and the relevant statutory guidance at the time of
02:02:45 statutory guidance at the time of construction of Grand Vitara I have also then explained what is required under the current Building Regulations and its statutory guidance in this image I have
02:03:00 statutory guidance in this image I have produced a timeline with the dates of the key changes made to Grandpa tyre since the first recorded works in 1979 I have derived this timeline presented on
02:03:12 have derived this timeline presented on this slide here from the information contained in a chronology of works submitted by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and through inspection of various contract documents
02:03:23 inspection of various contract documents provided to me the first recorded works on grandfa tyre was a building regulations application for improvement to the ground floor community rooms in 1979 between 1979 and 2017 there is
02:03:40 1979 between 1979 and 2017 there is evidence of a total of 19 different sets of works undertaken to various parts of the building including the final refurbishment from 2012 to 2016 for the
02:03:52 refurbishment from 2012 to 2016 for the purposes of this presentation works include alterations or modifications or even replacement of existing elements of the building or its services I have
02:04:03 the building or its services I have identified different types of refurbishment work with different colours on the timeline I have provided in this slide
02:04:14 I will now explain those works separators in two types nine of the 19
02:04:25 separators in two types nine of the 19 recorded changes to the building relate to its internal layout three of those nine dealt with the residential floors of the building highlighted in yellow specifically these were the
02:04:37 specifically these were the refurbishment of lobbies on all floors in 1985 the refurbishment of levels three and four in 1986 and finally the works in the primary refurbishment five
02:04:50 works in the primary refurbishment five of the nine sets of internal layout works dealt only with the non-residential floors one set of internal works undertaken in 1980 was not specific on location whilst I have
02:05:03 not specific on location whilst I have substantial detail on the most recent primary refurbishment there is little detail available on the specifics of the other eight sets of eternal works that occurred four of the 19 record of
02:05:17 occurred four of the 19 record of refurbishment included work to the lifts and ground filter in 2005 all three lifts and the building were fully replaced this consisted of the two main
02:05:28 replaced this consisted of the two main lifts serving oil floors and a smaller hydraulic lift that was provided to access level 2 and 3 from ground to enable these works additional preparatory work was also needed
02:05:40 preparatory work was also needed separately in 2004 these were works to build a new brick enclosure a grade level to contain the new hydraulic lift equipment for one of the three lifts the
02:05:52 equipment for one of the three lifts the other two sets of work on lifts in Grand Vitara were undertaken as part of the primary refurbishment first in 2013 the low level access lifts between ground and level 3 was removed as part of the
02:06:05 and level 3 was removed as part of the demolition works to the tower then later in the primary refurbishment the lift shafts were modified to permit the lifts to also serve levels 1 and 3 where
02:06:16 to also serve levels 1 and 3 where previously they did not three of the 19 recorded refurbishment included work to fire doors within for tower fire door replacements were carried out within the tower in 1985
02:06:30 carried out within the tower in 1985 2011 and finally during the final primary refurbishment the 1985 works replaced an undetermined number of flat entrance fire doors in unknown locations
02:06:42 entrance fire doors in unknown locations in the building the building out regulations application provided to me and associated with the works did not define the exact number of doors in 2011
02:06:54 define the exact number of doors in 2011 a program of flat entrance door replacements was undertaken this involved fitting 106 replacement flat entrance doors to tenant at flats no
02:07:05 entrance doors to tenant at flats no works were done to twelve leaseholder flats or two tenant of flats finally in the last primary refurbishment new stair doors new flat entrance fire doors and
02:07:16 doors new flat entrance fire doors and fire doors to other rooms were provided on levels ground one two and three only two of the 19 refurbishment since 1974 were to the external construction of the
02:07:28 were to the external construction of the building specifically in 2008 the flat roof coverings at roof level on top of the building were replaced then the overcrowding of the whole building which
02:07:40 overcrowding of the whole building which took place from 2012 to 2016 in 2016 one gas supply riser running vertically up the building was decommissioned and
02:07:51 the building was decommissioned and replaced with a new gas supply pipe the appointed gas expert Rodney Hancock's is investigating all aspects of the gas supply dreadful tower and will convert
02:08:02 supply dreadful tower and will convert these matters in detail including the history of gas supply relation works to the tower I have incorporated the most recent works in 2016 only for the
02:08:14 recent works in 2016 only for the purposes of my fire safety related work as they relate to compile rotation as a result of my understanding of the works carried out grande full tire since 1974
02:08:26 carried out grande full tire since 1974 I provided in Section 4 of my report the specific refurbishment works that I consider to be relevant to my investigation of the active imposter systems that existed in Grand Vitara
02:08:38 systems that existed in Grand Vitara this is due to their direct influence on the eventual performance of the fire safety measures on the night of the fire these are the lift replacement works in
02:08:49 these are the lift replacement works in 2005 the Tennant flat entrance door replacement in 2011 the refurbishment works between 2012 and 2016 and the new 10 of gar supply which was in compute
02:09:01 10 of gar supply which was in compute the night of the fire I will deal with each of these in turn in the next series of presentations
02:09:34 the first time through irrelevant works is in relation to the lifts provided in Grantville tower and so the status of that lift provision the night of the fire works were undertaken in 2005 as I
02:09:47 fire works were undertaken in 2005 as I said but further works undertaken during the primary refurbishment both works are relevant to the fire safety status of the lifts the night of the fire I will therefore describe the works during both
02:09:59 therefore describe the works during both timeframes here the original plan drawings for Grantville tire indicate three lifts were installed as this image
02:10:11 three lifts were installed as this image shows this included a small lift connect and ground level to level 3 this more lift was located in the southeast corner of the building it was ultimately removed as part of the primary
02:10:22 removed as part of the primary refurbishment works and so I have not considered it any further the remaining two lifts as you can see were located centrally in the building opening out
02:10:33 centrally in the building opening out into the lobby between each flat and the single protected escape stir access to the two main original passenger lifts was provided from the original ground of
02:10:44 was provided from the original ground of a lobby
02:10:45 a lobby and at level 2 access to these two lifts on upper floors was provided on every floor between level 4 and level 23 these central lifts did not serve level 1 and
02:10:57 central lifts did not serve level 1 and level 3 therefore these passenger lifts were for the purposes of accessing the floors and the tire wood flats only before describing the works undertaken to the lifts and Grantsville tire I want
02:11:10 to the lifts and Grantsville tire I want to first describe the two types of lifts for firefighting there are two types in the context of Grand Vitara because since the tire was built the requirements for lifts for firefighting
02:11:21 requirements for lifts for firefighting has changed this occurred in 1992 therefore understanding the lift requirements for firefighting before and after 1992 is relevance for lifts to be
02:11:34 after 1992 is relevance for lifts to be suitable for firefighting they require special features to allow the fire brigade to access them during a fire and for the lifts to be robust enough to continue operating
02:11:45 continue operating in a fire scenario since 1971 prior to the construction of Granville Tire there has been a requirement for the provision of a lift which may be used by the fire
02:11:56 of a lift which may be used by the fire brigade within high-rise residential buildings at that time lifts with specific firefighting provisions were referred to as fire lifts in 1992 the
02:12:09 referred to as fire lifts in 1992 the name used to describe these lifts changed to firefighting lifts and the required safety provisions to enable lifts to be safely used by firefighters in a fire whose changed also this term
02:12:23 in a fire whose changed also this term firefighting lift and the association requirement of the excuse me and the associated requirements for such lifts are in general still enforced today to
02:12:36 are in general still enforced today to understand the fire safety features for a lift it is useful to understand the basic components of a lift system and the terms used to describe it these are
02:12:47 the terms used to describe it these are illustrators in this image people or goods are transported within the lift car which is suspended by cables directly affixed to the lift car a lift
02:12:58 directly affixed to the lift car a lift machine typically located in a machine room at the top of the lift drives and stops the lifts a counterweight is used for traction the lift is housed within a vertical
02:13:11 the lift is housed within a vertical shaft openings in these shafts at each floor of the building allow people to access the lift the lift landing doors positioned in each of these openings allow controlled access
02:13:23 these openings allow controlled access to the lift car and to the lip of the shaft itself the original code of practice for fire safety as applied at the time of construction of Grand Vitara
02:13:34 the time of construction of Grand Vitara is again cp3 dated nineteen seven - one and it describes the provisions to be made for a firefighter a fire lift I have illustrated the key features
02:13:45 have illustrated the key features required for a fire lift at the time of construction of grandfa tire on this image few requirements are that the fire lift should serve every residential floor a fire switch should be provided
02:13:59 floor a fire switch should be provided whereby firefighters can obtain and control the use of a lift without interference from other persons and the requirement of a maximum distance between the stair and lift of no more
02:14:11 between the stair and lift of no more than 10 meters the lift car should have a platform area of not less than 1.5 meters squared a capacity of 550 kilograms and reached the top floor from
02:14:24 kilograms and reached the top floor from ground level within 1 minute and finally the requirement that the electrical supply to any fire lift should be provided by a sub main circus exclusive to the lift with the cable
02:14:37 exclusive to the lift with the cable supplying current passing through roots of negligible fire risk if we now consider the fire safety requirements for a firefighting lift there is a clear
02:14:49 for a firefighting lift there is a clear difference in standard as I have illustrated in this image the number of features required in a firefighting lift as required from 1992 onwards is
02:15:00 as required from 1992 onwards is substantially greater of the 15 features required for the new firefighting lift three of these three of those provisions were also required for the historic fire
02:15:12 were also required for the historic fire lift shown here in blue they were like they relate to the size of the lift car the minimum travel time for the lift to reach the top floor and the provision of a fire switch for the fire brigade four
02:15:26 a fire switch for the fire brigade four of the 15 required features for a firefighting lift were also required for a fire lift but a higher standard is now required I have shown those features in orange
02:15:37 shown those features in orange for example the lift is required to serve every floor not just residential fleurs the power supply is required to be fire protected not routed through
02:15:48 be fire protected not routed through areas of negligible fire risk the minimum capacity of the lift car has increased to six hundred and thirty kilograms and finally there are eight additional fire safety features required
02:16:00 additional fire safety features required for a firefighting lift compared to a fire lift which I've shown in blue gray here these are more substantial features for example two independent power
02:16:11 for example two independent power supplies for the lift in case of power failure to the main supply water protection to the lift and the provision of an escape hatch to the lift car fire resisting landing doors a
02:16:23 lift car fire resisting landing doors a two-way intercom communication device between access level the lift car and the machinery room this was the standard required for lifts used at the time of
02:16:35 required for lifts used at the time of the lift replacement work in 2005 and subsequently in 2012 to 2016 the standard of lift for firefighting is
02:16:46 standard of lift for firefighting is also relevant to the use of lists for evacuation the current version of approved document b which was applicable at the time of the primary refurbishment permits the use of lifts which meet the
02:16:58 permits the use of lifts which meet the standard of a firefighting lift to be used in this evacuation lift this provision applies to firefighting lives only and not to historic fire lifts in general this is because of the higher
02:17:10 general this is because of the higher standard of protection now provided to firefighting this I will now explain the lift replacement works
02:17:23 a complete replacement of the central lift system was undertaken in 2005 from reviewing the specification within the health and safety file prepared for the works the standard of lifts specified
02:17:36 works the standard of lifts specified then was consistent with the historic fire lift standard and not the firefighting standard applicable in 2005 then further modification works were
02:17:48 then further modification works were also undertaken during the primary refurbishment the scope of this modification was to increase the number of floors served by the two central lifts during these works the lifts were
02:18:00 lifts during these works the lifts were not upgraded either to the applicable firefighting standard the scope of the lift refurbishment works in 2005 was substantial he's included replacing all
02:18:13 substantial he's included replacing all associated equipment and machinery new lift cars were installed new lifts landing doors were installed core points and controls the openings and the lift
02:18:25 and controls the openings and the lift shaft were also increased in width the lift was not at this time upgraded to serve level 1 and 3 and therefore continued not to serve every floor of the building as is required for a
02:18:37 the building as is required for a firefighting lift later during the primary refurbishment new openings and the lift shaft were created on level 1 and 3 as a way to access the new residential flats on these levels
02:18:49 residential flats on these levels therefore after the primary refurbishment both lifts could be used to access every floor as is required for the firefighting lift standard during 2005 the two lift cars were increased in
02:19:03 2005 the two lift cars were increased in size and capacity the plan drawing on the left indicates the smaller original lift car and on the right the larger replacement lift car the openings of the lift shaft on every floor were widened
02:19:16 lift shaft on every floor were widened to increase the clear entrance of the doors from 800 to 880 millimeters the new capacity of 900 kilograms did meet the minimum standard for a firefighting
02:19:27 the minimum standard for a firefighting lift
02:19:30 the specification for the 2005 works also required a firefighter control switch to be installed a firefighter control switch is required for both the
02:19:41 control switch is required for both the fire lift and to firefighting leaders I observed two firefighter controller switches and gradual tire photographs of which you can see here one a
02:19:52 which you can see here one a ground-level prayer is required as this is the firefighter entry point to the building I observed the second switch at level two this is not the firefighter entry point to the building the 2016
02:20:06 entry point to the building the 2016 fire risk assessment states that the control switch should then be changed from level two to ground level indication that prior to 2016 the fire control switch at level two was
02:20:18 control switch at level two was operational the 2005 specification also included an emergency intercom system which is required for a firefighting lift only however I have not yet been
02:20:29 lift only however I have not yet been able to observe whether this system was installed on site therefore following the 2005 and 2012 to 2016 works the
02:20:41 the 2005 and 2012 to 2016 works the lifts specified for grandfa tower contains a number of fire safety features which I have highlighted in green in this illustration these provisions satisfied the requirements for a historic fire lift
02:20:54 requirements for a historic fire lift they did not satisfy all of the requirements for a firefighting lift as existed at the time of the 2005 and the 2012 2016 refurbishment works key
02:21:08 2012 2016 refurbishment works key features that were required to meet the standard but which are were not specified are a secondary power supply was not specified electrical schematics showed it had an independent power
02:21:20 showed it had an independent power supply the exact cable routing is not known the lift landing doors were not specified as requiring any fire resistance when they were required to have 60 minutes fire resistance no water
02:21:33 have 60 minutes fire resistance no water protection measures were specified for electrical equipment within the lift and well an escape hatch was not specified for the replacement lift card as the lifts were not specified to meet
02:21:46 as the lifts were not specified to meet the standard of a firefighting lift they could not therefore also be relied upon for evacuation because as it states in approved document b where a firefighting
02:21:57 approved document b where a firefighting lift has been provided to satisfy requirement b5 this can be utilized as part of a management plan for evacuating disabled people any such plan should
02:22:08 disabled people any such plan should include a contingency for when the fire and rescue services arrive and that ends my lift talk thank you very much what
02:22:23 my lift talk thank you very much what what what is your next well I have it can hold on to doors now how long do you think doors might doors 15 minutes fifty
02:22:34 think doors might doors 15 minutes fifty twelve back twelve minutes yes fifteen minutes we could do the fifteen minutes now and then break yes okay so we do the doors yes I just do the doors thank you thank you
02:23:00 I will now describe the works that were undertaken to fire doors and grind for tire in 2011 I've described the road of
02:23:11 tire in 2011 I've described the road of fire doors and protected door openings in compartments compartment a ssin is the primary fire protection measure for the single safety condition the stay-put strategy where doors are required within
02:23:23 strategy where doors are required within walls requiring fire resistance those doors must be self closing or in lockable fire doors the coordinate to the statutory guidance there are various performance requirements that they need
02:23:35 performance requirements that they need to achieve and must be subjected to fire testing to confirm these performance requirements these requirements have changed over time since 1974 when the
02:23:47 changed over time since 1974 when the tower is built fire doors are tested as a whole assembly which is in the state it is installed in a building so importantly this includes the Hardware
02:23:58 importantly this includes the Hardware glazing seals around the door and several other components these components are shown in the next slide but before I move on to show that a door assembly meets the required standard the
02:24:11 assembly meets the required standard the door assembly should be in accordance with the specification or a design which has been shown by tests to be capable of meeting that performance or have been assessed from text to evidence against
02:24:24 assessed from text to evidence against appropriate standards or by using relevant design guides as meeting that performance these are the components of a fire door assembly in appendix I to
02:24:36 a fire door assembly in appendix I to point to of my report I listed out 44 features that form a fire door of these the principal components are the door leaf the door frame the architrave which
02:24:49 leaf the door frame the architrave which is a trim that serves to mask the joint between a door frame and the surrounding structure a self closing device a ninja messenge fire seal and a smoke seal
02:25:01 messenge fire seal and a smoke seal which is for the purposes of restricting the flow
02:25:05 the flow of cold smoke fitter to the door relief is various ironmongery which includes latches locks letter plates and handles as indicated in this diagram everything
02:25:17 as indicated in this diagram everything together is known as the door assembly and every component is relevant to the fire performance of the system I will now describe the location of the
02:25:28 now describe the location of the specific doors and grandfa tire which were required to be fire doors these are the fire doors required to maintain the compartment ation to all the flats the stairs and the openings onto all of the
02:25:40 stairs and the openings onto all of the lobbies and other risers within the corner of grandfa tire on levels for 223 all of the fire doors were installed in the partitions forming the core of the
02:25:51 the partitions forming the core of the tower to indicate each of these a diagram of the protected Lobby and stairs shown first flat entrance fire doors the front door of every flat
02:26:04 doors the front door of every flat should be a fire door as it separates the flat from the protected Lobby there are six of these doors per floor on levels for 223 but they are indicated in yellow the lift shafts must also be a
02:26:18 yellow the lift shafts must also be a separate fire compartment and should be separated from the protected Lobby as the lift door is open on to the protected Lobby the two doors to the lifts at each Lobby their fridge should achieve a specified
02:26:30 their fridge should achieve a specified fire resistance as shown in yellow here the refuse chute Drew is also required to be a separate fire department and so the single door to the refuse chute room
02:26:42 the single door to the refuse chute room on every level is required to be a fire resistant door and that is it located at the arrow mark in there finally the single door to the protected stairs each
02:26:53 single door to the protected stairs each level the protected stair is another separate fire compartment and so it's also required to be provided with the fire door
02:27:03 in 2011 a program of fire door replacements at Grand Vitara was undertaken this 3d image of Grand Vitara indicates in the model the flat entrance
02:27:16 indicates in the model the flat entrance doors on a typical level zooming out to the extent of the full screen you can see the doors that were replaced in the tower under doors that were not replaced
02:27:29 tower under doors that were not replaced as part of these works that's their locations the program of work was undertaken by the TMO to replace the front door of dwellings occupied by Rome
02:27:40 front door of dwellings occupied by Rome Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea tenants 106 fire doors appear to have been supplied and installed by mance master door to replace the main flat
02:27:51 master door to replace the main flat entrance doors this is based on their door replacement schedule which included a hundred and four attendant flats and two leaseholder flats there for 14 fire
02:28:02 two leaseholder flats there for 14 fire doors that were not replaced consists of twelve leaseholder floods and to Tallinn floods these works did not specify new doors for the lifts stairs refuse shoot
02:28:14 doors for the lifts stairs refuse shoot room or any other riser in the tower nor any of the doors on levels grown to three the standard for the fire safety performance for the flat entrance fire doors at the time of installation is
02:28:26 doors at the time of installation is described an approved document b the key requirements are integrity fire resistance of 30 minutes when tested - the fire resistance test british standard four seven six part 22 the
02:28:39 standard four seven six part 22 the doors should be fitted with smoke seals restricting air leakage around head-on jams
02:28:45 jams no glazing is permitted on deck glazing husband demonstrated to achieve an insulation performance that is equivalent to the integrity performance of the door a self closing device is
02:28:58 of the door a self closing device is required the fire door should only be fitted with lux readily opening from the inside without a key regarding glazing any door containing glazing should have
02:29:11 any door containing glazing should have tested with the glazing in place or an assessment have been made to show that it would meet the required performance the glazing must have insulation fire resistance in addition to integrity fire
02:29:23 resistance in addition to integrity fire resistance because table a4 limitations on the use of uninsulated glazed elements on escape routes as presented and approved document the states no part
02:29:36 and approved document the states no part of the water door leaf between residential sleeping accommodation and a common escape route of a single stairway building can contain on insulated glazing the fired or product to replace
02:29:50 glazing the fired or product to replace the flat entrance doors and Granville Tire was sure door G RP as manufactured by manse master door limited the brochure for sure door GRP doors
02:30:01 brochure for sure door GRP doors describes the doors as a fiberglass composite door which was successfully tested for the integrity and stability criteria for 30 minutes the brochure
02:30:12 criteria for 30 minutes the brochure does not state that the doors have been tested for cold smoke leakage as required nor for the insulation component of fire resistance the photograph on the Left shows the exact
02:30:23 photograph on the Left shows the exact single test specimen that was used to achieve those test results it does not feature any glazing or a number nameplate for example it does feature a
02:30:35 nameplate for example it does feature a specific latch lock letterbox handle and spyhole the self closed around the tests of specimen was externally mounted on the door in Grantville tyre the man's
02:30:47 the door in Grantville tyre the man's master door a specification sheet specified 58 on glazed Toradora fire doors were installed an example I observed is shown on the left
02:30:59 observed is shown on the left 48 glazed Shura door fire doors were installed an example I observed to shown on the right mixed up there on the right with regards
02:31:12 mixed up there on the right with regards the ironmongery the months mastered or a specification sheet specified different locks different letter boxes different self closing devices and hinge types to
02:31:23 self closing devices and hinge types to that provided fire within the pyro test regarding the 14 flat entrance doors which were not replaced there is little evidence available regarding those doors
02:31:34 evidence available regarding those doors as they have mostly been destroyed by the fire in considering if those doors were the originals as installed in 1974 it is now useful to note that the requirements were different at that time
02:31:46 requirements were different at that time the main differences for a flat entrance door at that time were self closing devices were different this could be achieved using what's called rising but hinges which are wedge-shaped hinges
02:31:59 hinges which are wedge-shaped hinges shown in this photograph these are no longer acceptable integrity rating of 20 minutes this is 10 minutes less than the 2011 standard a 12 millimeter Reeve age
02:32:12 2011 standard a 12 millimeter Reeve age was also required to prevent smoke spread which I will now explain in both 2011 and in 1974 fire doors have incorporated measures to stop the spread
02:32:23 incorporated measures to stop the spread of smoke in 1974 this was in the form of an overlap between the door and the frame known as a rebate in the picture on the left the door would swing into
02:32:34 on the left the door would swing into the frame away from the viewer and be stopped from swinging any further once in the frame by the rebates the depth of rebate required was specified rather
02:32:45 rebate required was specified rather than a limit on the rate of air passing through the door in 2011 preventing the spread of smoke was and still is usually accomplished by smoke seals which could be brushed like
02:32:57 smoke seals which could be brushed like a rubber like strips around to our sides of a door that are designed specifically to seal air floor around the edges of a door regarding the stare of fire doors
02:33:08 door regarding the stare of fire doors I have no records of replacement works to the stair doors therefore I have assumed that the stair doors were the original doors as fitted in 1974
02:33:19 original doors as fitted in 1974 again comparing the requirements for stair doors in 1974 as opposed to the requirements that I had now an approved document b in both 1974 on 2011 stair
02:33:31 document b in both 1974 on 2011 stair doors were required to be self closing in 1974 an integrity fire-resistance rating of thirty minutes was required current standards would be for a
02:33:42 current standards would be for a 60-minute integrity raishin in 1974 a 25 millimeter rebate was required the current standards would require smoked seals with prescribed limits on air flow
02:33:55 seals with prescribed limits on air flow I observed a gradual tire that the rebate was 12 millimeters not 25 under stair fire doors a 12 millimeter rebate with indicates that this is a 20 minute
02:34:07 with indicates that this is a 20 minute fire yeah to summarize the fire door provision within Granville tower on the 14th of June 2017 106 of the 120 flat entrance doors were replaced with sure
02:34:20 entrance doors were replaced with sure door GRP doors the remaining 14 doors comprised of leaseholder flats on to tenant flasks they are assumed to be original doors however few remained to the investigators the lift landing doors
02:34:33 the investigators the lift landing doors were replaced in the 2005 lift works would no specified fire resistance the stair fire doors have no documentation or records defining any replacement so
02:34:45 or records defining any replacement so it is assumed they are the original doors as installed and appear to have fire resistance of 20 minutes for the ref you shoot room doors currently no documentation or records of their replacements are available and so it is
02:34:58 replacements are available and so it is assumed they are the original doors as installed in 1974 fire doors are a crucial element of the stay-put strategy as they represent an opportunity for
02:35:09 as they represent an opportunity for weak spots to form in the fire resistant partitions that separate a flat fire from occupants either on that floor where the fire has started or occupants
02:35:20 where the fire has started or occupants and fly
02:35:20 and fly above the floor the fire has started fire doors are there for a building regulations requirement as a passive fire protection measure faulty fire doors mean faulty compartment ation the
02:35:33 doors mean faulty compartment ation the compartment ation is the primary basis of the statehood strategy thank you thank you very much none you've been speaking almost non-stop for quite a long time would you like a break now yes
02:35:45 long time would you like a break now yes I'm not surprised thank you very much you've given us a lot to think about if we resume is we will break then in a moment it is a little earlier than usual if we resume it two o'clock is that
02:35:57 if we resume it two o'clock is that going to give you enough time to finish after well thank you very much in that case we'll rise now and resume at 2 o'clock please
02:36:16 you