Jane Embury’s second article on learning containment lessons In my last article I described a 2004 fire in Paraguay. In that tragic fire hundreds died because of a lack of containment and adequate escape routes. That’s what our internal and external systems are there to do. Contain the fire at source and protect escape routes. […]
fire safety
9/11 and fire in tall buildings
Jane Embury looks at fire compartmentation in new tall buildings The 20th anniversary of 9/11 is fast approaching. In the wake of the Twin Towers, their replacement, the One World Trade Center opened in 2014. Although 9/11 was a manmade disaster, the Grenfell Tower fire again underlines that tragedies in tall buildings do happen. In […]
The architecture of fear
Jane Embury looks at the threat of explosive attack Architecture and urban planning have evolved over the centuries as countries and communities have responded to potential threat. The earliest communities sought shelter and protection in caves. From ancient Egypt onwards, architecture has not only been about comfort and convenience but defensive capability. Nowadays, we might […]
A culture of safety
Jane Embury looks at the culture of fire safety Over the years, fire deaths in the UK have decreased dramatically. In 2001/02 there were 583 deaths. In 2018/19, 318. Last year, during lockdown, it was 243. Many of those deaths happened in residential properties, but not all. That’s why we must keep a clear focus on […]
Simpler planning = better planning?
Jane Embury asks whether a rush to build will lead to a better built environment The UK government has announced major reform to the planning system. Critics of the current system say that it’s unwieldy, cumbersome and takes too long time for decisions to be made. In response, the government wants significant deregulation, something that […]
