Knowsley Heights fire explained

Image Alt:Knowsley Heights tower block
Date:1991
Location:Knowsley Heights, Huyton, Merseyside, England
Coordinates:53.4217°N -2.844°W
Type:Structure fire
Cause:Rubbish fire
Deaths:0
Reported Injuries:0

The Knowsley Heights fire occurred in 1991 at the 11-story Knowsley Heights tower block in Huyton, Merseyside. No-one was injured in the fire.

Fire

The fire was deliberately started when rubbish was set alight outside the 11-story Knowsley Heights tower block in Huyton, Merseyside.[1] The flames began at the bottom of the building, and spread through a 90mm gap between the wall and the newly installed rainscreen cladding.[1] [2] The fire spread to all floors of the 11-storey building, causing extensive damage to the walls and windows of the building. The interior of the building did not suffer damage, as the fire did not enter the inside of the building.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] No-one was injured in the fire.[3]

Aftermath

The Building Research Establishment (BRE) determined that the cladding around Knowsley Heights was a low risk of combustibility. They also highlighted that the building lacked firebreaks.[3] The cladding used in Knowsley Heights was declared legal.[6] The incident was mentioned by BRE for subsequent changes in building regulations.[2]

The Knowsley Heights fire featured in the BBC Two documentary The Fires that Foretold Grenfell, which was first broadcast in October 2018.[6]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Burning issues. Architects' Journal. 31 May 2001. 7 July 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170708004552/https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/home/burning-issues/181812.article. 8 July 2017. live.
  2. Book: Fire Hazards of Exterior Wall Assemblies Containing Combustible Components. White. Nathan. Delichatsios. Michael. Springer. 50. July 2015. 9781493928989. 7 July 2017.
  3. News: Should Knowsley Heights blaze have been a warning from history for Grenfell?. Thorp. Liam. Liverpool Echo. 3 July 2017. 7 July 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170709105921/http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/should-knowsley-heights-blaze-been-13271446. 9 July 2017. live.
  4. News: Warnings over 'deathtrap' high-rise building cladding 'ignored' for decades. Sawer. Patrick. The Daily Telegraph. 17 June 2017. 7 July 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170709215733/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/17/warnings-deathtrap-high-rise-building-cladding-ignored-decades/. 9 July 2017. live.
  5. News: How might we avert another tragedy like the Grenfell Tower fire?. The Guardian. 15 June 2017. 7 July 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170621035453/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/15/how-might-we-avert-another-tragedy-like-the-grenfell-tower-fire. 21 June 2017. live.
  6. News: Grenfell Tower: The fires that foretold the tragedy . BBC News . 30 October 2018 . 30 October 2018.

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