CROSS report finds ‘near miss’ incident as combustible cladding material ignited during remediation works

A CROSS report published in late August found that combustible insulation on the external walls of a high-rise residential premises had been ‘ignited’ during remediation work.

The incident, described as a ‘near miss’ by an expert panel, was not reported in the ongoing construction works process or to the fire and rescue services.

CROSS provides a system of confidential incident reporting in the UK. Previously focused only on structural safety issues, its wider remit now also includes fire safety incidents.

In August, a reporter identified that there was damage in the insulation material of a building undergoing cladding remediation works, as a result of apparent combustion within the expanded polystyrene (EPS) core element.

The source of the fire is believes to have come from power cutting tools being used during the removal process, where the friction ignition the external wall.

The combustion appeared to have been extinguished after a short time, but the reporter highlighted that the incident had not been reported, nor does there appear to have been an extinguishing medium used.

The CROSS team have consequently identified the issue as a ‘near miss’ to the contractor, design team and client. It notes that there is potential for the fire to have “entered the cladding and proceeded to burn extensively within the cavity between the cladding and the structure”.

Unsafe working practices are said to have been the underlying cause.

You can find out more about CROSS in IFSEC Insider’s interview with Neil Gibbins, Lead Fire Safety Consultant for CROSS-UK, here.

Resident protection during remediation works vital

Each CROSS report receives expert panel commentary, with this incident finding the management of fire safety on the construction site “poor”, and there being “complete disregard” to ensure that proposed works do not compromise the safety construction operatives.

It also highlighted that residents must be protected, with many remediation works taking place while buildings are still in occupation. The construction plan should identify any combustible materials that may be present, any fire risk activities such as hot works or cutting, and anything that might compromise the fire safety systems of the building.

The expert panel comments concluded:

“This is an opportunity to highlight the need to alert the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) in these circumstances, which should be part of the management and culture of fire safety on the site, as whilst those responsible may wish to ‘cover up’ the fire, the early summoning of the FRS is key.

“There are too many instances where ignition from work practices have led to major fires, and so we need this culture to change to make progress. This would be particularly tragic if there was another cladding fire in a residential building. The consequences for all involved would be severe.”

Read the full CROSS report.

EBOOK: Lessons from FIREX 2023 – Emerging challenges in fire safety

Read our FREE eBook, which provides a summary of the key debates and presentations that took place at FIREX 2023 in May, alongside additional exclusive content for readers.

Chapters cover new fire safety construction guidance, how to mitigate the risk of lithium-ion battery fires, and evacuation planning. There's also exclusive insight into the resident's view of the building safety crisis, and how the fire safety and sustainability agendas can work together.

Get your copy today!