Big renovation projects often involve high fire risks, as unattended sites may lead to a larger loss of property. Recently, a 16-storey tower block under construction was engulfed in flames in Birmingham city centre. After deploying 50 firefighters, who worked tirelessly to extinguish the blaze, the site was secured and resulted in no injury nor casualty. The investigation that followed, however, revealed that the fire had “started accidentally”, according to investigators from the West Midlands Fire Service, begging the question: how can construction sites be safeguarded from such incidents?
Fire on the Construction Front Line
According to recent data, the Fire and Rescue Service in England attend more than 300 primary fires on construction sites every year. Although renovation fire risks rarely include loss of life, they still result in massive losses, both of property and of resources.
In a report on the economic and social cost of fire, it was found that the sum of measures designed to either prevent fires from occurring or protective measures to mitigate the damage and impact of fires, combined with the direct and indirect costs that occur as a result of fire and the cost of fire and rescue services responding to incidents amounted to £12 billion.
It’s important to note that, according to the aforementioned report, the biggest cost related to fire protection is due to preventive measures, accounting for more than £8 billion out of the £12 billion. However, ensuring the safety of buildings under construction could help save more than £3 billion in damages.
Essential Fire Safety Practices
A robust fire safety strategy on any construction or renovation site must be built around several key risks. First and foremost, a comprehensive and regularly updated Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) is legally mandated under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and supported by HSE guidance such as HSG168; it forms the foundation of compliance and proactive risk management.
Alongside this, a stringent Hot Work Permit system is vital, as activities like welding and cutting remain among the most common ignition sources for site fires, making strict controls essential. Daily housekeeping also plays a critical role in reducing risk, ensuring that combustible waste does not accumulate and provide fuel for potential fires, an ongoing challenge in constantly changing renovation environments.
Finally, maintaining clear, well-marked, and suitably protected escape routes is non-negotiable, with careful planning required to ensure they remain effective and accessible throughout each phase of a project.
The Birmingham tower fire powerfully illustrates why innovative solutions, such as wireless fire technology, are no longer optional for effectively managing renovation fire risks.
Wireless Fire Technology for Dynamic Sites
Thanks to innovative wireless technology, building sites can benefit from a much higher level of fire protection. Wireless systems, such as Ramtech’s WES, allow devices to be installed on a MESH network, preventing the connection from being broken by a single faulty device. However, perhaps the biggest risk to property damage on construction sites is due to fires breaking out when sites are left unattended. In an effort to reduce this risk, Ramtech developed the REACT cloud-based platform. REACT is a mobile and desktop application that effectively warns project managers of any issue through a simple push notification. By leveraging innovations like WES and the REACT platform, renovation fire risks can be significantly reduced, helping to lower the cost of fires each year and setting a new standard for safety in buildings under construction.
Images Credit: Dan Squire (X)