There have been many examples of fires that have broken out during periods when construction work and renovations are taking place. Some of these examples have had devastating consequences such as the fire that destroyed Notre-Dame Cathedral, one of Paris’s most famous tourist attractions and considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture. There was also the fire that destroyed The Royal Clarence Hotel in Bath, England’s oldest hotel.
Building renovation works can lead to there being an increased heightened risk of fire. This might be because there are contractors on site, operating practices may be altered, and the materials being used may be hazardous. If these risks are not managed and monitored closely and carefully throughout the project there can be an increased risk of fire.
At Tecserv UK we regularly advise building owners and responsible individuals to carry out regular fire risk assessments – and this is all the more important when building works are taking place. Consideration should also be given and extra precautions taken even if works is taking place on adjacent buildings.
As well as conducting a fire risk assessment, some of the additional checks you should to be considered are as follows:
The above list is not exhaustive, but it is clear that any kind of building works cause disruption which can increase fire risk. If your commercial building is located in the vicinity of other building works, it is also advisable to be aware and mindful of the additional risk to protect your people, property and processes.
Colin joined Tecserv UK Ltd in 2010. He has been in the fire and security industry for 30 years + and in that time has held a number of senior positions. His experience helps to bring focus and growth to our sales and marketing strategy by being objective driven and KPI measured.
