Fighting fires in high rise buildings- a firefighters

perspective

Group Manager Steve Gourlay

Joelma Building

Introduction • High rise building fires:

• Joelma Buidling, Sao Paulo 1974

• Covered in Fire Safety training at FSC as a case study in 1993

• At least 179 people died, 40 jumped to escape the fire

• Possibly why I am here?

• Grenfell Tower 14th June 2017 (Presentation subject restrictions)

Aim

• To give the audience an overview of firefighting in high rise buildings from a Firefighters perspective

• An examination of techniques and challenges faced, looking at elements relevant to health and safety professionals

Objectives

To provide a brief overview of:

• Relevant Scottish Legislation

• Incident Risk Management

• High Rise Standard Operating Procedure

• Risks with high rise fires

• Case studies

Legislation

• Fire Safety in Scotland is covered by Part 3 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and associated regulations

• High Rise domestic premises are not deemed relevant and therefore no statutory duty exists for SFRS to Audit for compliance under our legislation

• These buildings are constructed to comply with Scottish Building Regulations

Legislation

• Firefighters will visit these types of premises under section 9(2)(d) of the FSA for Operational familiarisation.

• Information will also be provided to those responsible on defects relating measures provided for firefighter safety e.g. fire doors, dry risers, firefighting lifts etc.

Incident Risk Management

• Firefighter Safety Maxim

• “At every incident the greater the potential benefit of fire and rescue actions, the greater the risk will be accepted by commanders and firefighters. Activities that present a high risk to safety are limited to those that have the potential to save life or to prevent rapid and significant escalation of the incident.”

Incident Risk Management

• SFRS Operate a nationally recognised Incident Command System:

• Adaptable to all sizes of incident

• It allows the Incident Commander to use Operational Guidance and health and safety arrangements, tailored to an incident and its objectives

• Achieves a balance between benefit and risk.

• Applied using tried and tested command skills

Incident Risk Management

• Utilises a team/sector approach to managing incidents

Incident Risk Management

• Sectors may be employed to manage spans of control.

Incident Risk Management • Decision Control Process

High Rise Procedures

• The complexity of firefighting in such buildings, together with the possibility of rescue work under very difficult conditions, makes it imperative that thought be given to strategic and tactical planning.

• A stand alone detailed standard operating procedure designed primarily for domestic use provides Incident Commanders with a safe system of work.

High Rise Procedures

High Rise Procedures

• Vital Information gathering

• Origin of call?

• Are persons reported?

• Crews familiar with flats/layout etc.?

• Resources on route?

• Information available from operations intelligence visits, indicator plates etc.?

High Rise Procedures

High Rise Procedures

• Management of the incident must take into account following hazards:

• Communications Failure

• Hanging Wires/Overhead Cables

• Fire Spread

• Falling Objects

• Contents of the Building/Hazardous Substances

High Rise Procedures

• Management of the incident must take into account following hazards (cont.):

• Fire Loading

• The Effects of Wind

• Anti-Social Behaviour

• Crew Welfare

• Health Surveillance.

Recent High Rise Fires

• Plasco building, Iran, January 2017:A fire at a 17-storey commercial building to multiple deaths, including 18 firefighters. The building collapsed - it had been deemed unsafe prior to the incident.

• Baku, Azerbaijan, May 2015:16 people died in a fire in a residential building, including five children - cladding on the outside of the building was blamed for the way the fire spread.

Recent High Rise Fires

• The Torch, Dubai, February 2015:79-storey skyscraper!

Recent High Rise Fires

Lakanal House: London July 2009. 6 people died

Recent High Rise Fires

• It was apparent that fire spread quickly, both laterally and vertically, trapping people in their homes, exterior cladding compounded internal compartmentation issues.

• Southwark Council pleaded guilty in 2017 to four charges concerning breaches to safety regulations

• The council expressed "sincere regret for the failures that were present in the building”.

Recent High Rise Fires

• Harrow Court: Stevenage 2005

• Firefighters Michael Miller and Jeff Wornham and a resident from the flat were killed.

• Shirley Towers: Southampton April 2010

• Firefighters Alan Bannon and James Shears died whilst tackling the fire

Recent High Rise Fires

• Grenfell Tower 80+ deaths?

Lessons learned? • Possible chimney effect from external

cladding?

Possible improvements? • As H+S professionals do you think these could

possibly improve the situation for some premises?

• Improvements to legislation? • Sprinklers and retro fitting? • Better building regulations? • Better construction controls and

methods/maintenance? • Potential for retrospective improvements due to

changes in regulations?

Thank you

•Questions?

• Stephen.Gourlay@firescotland.gov.uk