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. […]
glass in buildings
The dynamics of fire
Jane Embury looks at what fire is and why it must be contained The International Association of Fire and Rescue Services (CTIF) collects fire data from countries and cities worldwide. CTIF says that over 100,000 people are killed by fire every year. That makes it among the most common causes of death for children and […]
To build or not to build
To once again mark Recycle Week, Jane Embury takes a look at recycling buildings. Most of us now accept the importance of recycling. The Earth’s resources are limited and we should make best use of them. The best way to do that is use them again and again. Ideally, in endless cycles – which we […]
No time to evacuate
Jane Embury looks back twenty years The 20th anniversary of 9/11 takes place in a few weeks. That grim milestone should also still cast an uncomfortable spotlight on the safe evacuation of buildings. Because it’s an issue that should be of concern now. Some contractors are reducing specifications for 60 minutes of integrity and insulation […]
Terrorism and Covid-19
Jane Embury looks at an unlikely legacy of the pandemic We all think we know how Covid-19 has shaped the health of nations around the world. For most of us, while the pandemic has changed our lives, we simply want a return to old normalities. But Covid-19 is leaving behind some unwelcome legacies including, perhaps, […]
