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CROSS-UK Newsletter 79 includes expert comment on fire and structural safety reports made to CROSS. The PDF version, accessed via the button below, also includes a range of building safety updates.
Rapid concealed fire spread and façade collapse risk in a modular building
A fire in modular residential accommodation spread rapidly across an external wall system due to a combination of inadequate fire resistance and a lack of cavity barriers, breaching compartments and compromising façade fixings.
Risk of hinge failure in reversible windows installed in high-rise buildings
A reporter has raised concerns following multiple incidents involving fully reversible windows in high-rise residential buildings. Several windows, installed during refurbishment works approximately ten years ago, fell from the building façade due to suspected hinge failures.
Concerns regarding the fire performance testing of roofs
A reporter highlights concerns that current roof fire test standards do not adequately assess modern systems, including photovoltaic PV roofs. BROOF(t4) classifications may underestimate flame spread, leaving risks unaddressed.
Severe signs of deterioration in bearings on a major bridge
A major road bridge with strategic importance has suffered bearing deterioration over the last 15 years, with almost all its bearings now severely compromised.
Use of self-drilling screws in the installation of fire dampers
Fire damper surveys are identifying widespread non-compliant installations using self-drilling screws, leading to costly remediation works and uncertainty about actual fire performance. The reporter calls for clearer guidance and proportionate assessment of damper function and safety risks.
Steelwork corrosion in a swimming pool
This report is about severe steelwork corrosion in the undercroft beneath a swimming pool walkway. The building dates to the 1930s and was subsequently altered by adding concrete-encased steel columns along the pool’s edge to carry a concrete beam-and-slab floor above.
Fire compartmentation and structural integrity concerns
The reporter is an experienced clerk of works. They highlight that they have observed poor and dangerous fire safety practices being showcased on a social media platform.
Failed base fixings to frameless glass balustrade
A structural engineer was called to investigate the failure of a frameless glass balustrade at a residential property. The balustrade had partially failed when leaned on, but did not collapse because of the continuous clamping channel at its base.
Regulatory duty for Battery Energy Storage Systems
The reporter highlights gaps in guidance for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). They are concerned that traditional safety measures may not address the fire, explosion, and operational risks involved.
Premature collapse during demolition
A reinforced concrete building collapsed during demolition. According to the reporter, the sequence and methodology of demolition do not appear to have been correctly followed.