Additional costs of £23,407 were also levied by Woolwich Crown Court after the Lewisham Homes pleaded guilty to failing to properly maintain fire doors and keep their Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RSO) risk assessment under review.
More than 100 firefighters were called to a fire in the Marine Tower in Deptford, south-east London in February 2011. The blaze, which was started deliberately in a 16th floor flat in February 2011, spread quickly to the communal areas of the Deptford tower block and into a neighbouring flat, where two women died.
The London Fire and Rescue Service, which brought the prosecution, found the fire door in the flat where the fire started had been prevented from closing by a metal security door fitted immediately in front, accelerating the spread of smoke to the lobby.
The presiding judge said the prosecution should serve as a “wake-up call” to other individuals and companies responsible for fire-safety in residential buildings. Had the defendant not been a not-for-profit organisation the fine would have been “considerably” higher, the judge added.
Sandra Clarke, the tenant in the flat where the blaze began, was convicted on two counts of manslaughter in 2012 after being found guilty of deliberately starting the fire.
Photo: LFB
Speaking after sentencing Neil Orbell, LFB’s assistant commission for fire safety, said the fire was a “stark reminder of the potentially lethal consequences” of neglecting fire safety. “I absolutely agree with the judge,” he added.
“This prosecution should act as a ‘wake-up call’ and send an urgent message to all housing providers to ensure the fire safety features in their buildings are properly maintained.
“If they are not, housing providers, managers, landlords and building owners should all be warned that we will not hesitate to prosecute if we find they are putting people’s lives at risk.”
A spokesman for Lewisham Homes said: “In 2011 the actions of a tenant led to the deaths of two people and her subsequent conviction, a tragedy that that touched us all and we deeply regret.
“We accept our failings under the fire safety regulations and take residents safety very seriously. We have been determined to learn lessons and invested heavily year on year to continually improve fire safety, and have made significant progress over the past five years.”
Ian Makins, chairman of ASDMA (the Architectural and Specialist Door Manufacturers Association), says the case highlights the importance of properly maintained fire doors.
“Fire doors offer vital protection and can make a real difference to the impact of a fire,” he says. “Sadly when lives are lost due to poorly maintained fire doors it should serve as a timely reminder for landlords and residents to check their fire doors are fit for purpose.
“Door repair, maintenance and replacement should be carried out by a knowledgeable specialist who has the necessary expertise.”
ASDMA has produced a ‘Best Practice Guide to Timber Fire Doors’ for anyone involved in the specification, procurement, installation, use and maintenance of timber fire doors. The guide, which considers all the issues required to satisfy UK Building Regulations, can be downloaded here.
Photo: LFB
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Good article. Just a reminder, it’s the London Fire Brigade not ‘fire and rescue’.
Without knowing the details of how the arson was carried out, it is difficult to comment if this prosecution was fair, but we usually trust the courts to look at such matters very carefully. In the harsh evironment of residential common areas, it seems worth taking a look at the approach by the Scottish care sector in greatly promoting ‘free swing’ type door devices. Residents can be very frustrated struggling through strongly sprung door closers with shopping or small children. These devices should lead to less vandalism and frustration. However, the determined arsonist can impair any set up with some… Read more »
Purpose built flats are designed and constructed to provide a 1hr fire box, this is the basis for a stay put policy. But when that ‘box’ is compromised as in this instance fire/smoke will spread rapidly from the point of orrigin putting other residents at risk and compromising the escape route and hindering attending fire crews. By allowing a steel security door to be fitted or left in place after tenancy, the landlord has knowingly compromised the fire safety of the building as this type of door does not have any in built features of a fire door.
As a Landlord, What flat has a metal security door fitted? I strongly suspect is the steel door was put in by the tenants to slow the police down if they do a forced entry. I have had simular situations of massive locks and bolts added to exit doors by drug dealing tenants. These kind of tenants don’t follow anyones rules. You can fix the FD and the moment you leave the building they will change it. What has to be considered is “resonableness” A landlord can only take resonable steps to ensure these things work. Tenants put plastic… Read more »
The singular case with a metal security door given prominence after 5 years, whereas typical ‘fire doors’, which are not fire doors, are overlooked. ‘Fire doors’ in flats are not fire doors when fitted with a letterplate. This is the case even with the ‘fire rated’ letterplates, which are currently tested and certified with the flap in closed position. Apart from the extreme scenario of letterbox arson the letterplate flap can be open for any reason, for example by a stuck newspaper. Then a ‘fire door’ has no resistance to spread of smoke and fire. For years this simple truth won’t… Read more »
I think Lewisham homes should applauded for admitting their failings and trying to rectify their issues. I believe the metal security door was used to stop the tenant getting back in but she did and set fire to the place. The tragedy was the two innocent tenants in a flat where no self closure was ever fitted perished because they found their escape blocked, panicked and the door never closed. Front door flats are to protect others not those in the flat of origin. To the person who mentioned the letter box. I have been to countless fires where the… Read more »
Graham Chilvers The door fitted is a security door to prevent access into an empty (void) property and was fitted by the landlord. The problem arose primarily as the landlords contractor removed the flats timber fire door so that the metal door and frame could be fitted. Void security doors are fitted by virtually all social landlords to prevent illegal entry so this fire has major implications for all social landlords.