FPASA BULLETIN FD 07
FIRES IN BUILDINGS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Every year many fires occur in buildings under construction. These fires dispel the popular
belief that modern buildings cannot burn.
While it is generally accepted that modern brick and concrete structures are not
combustible, their contents, particularly furnishings and finishes, are usually highly
combustible. Buildings under construction are no exception. Large quantities of timber,
plastics, panelling, paints, gases, refuse, etc, will be found on building sites.
Very few fires on building sites make headline news because loss of life is relatively small.
The total damage, however, can be very costly not only in terms of direct damage but also
through time penalty contracts and the inflationary costs of replacement materials.
The following are a few notable fires which have occurred in buildings under construction:
Department store – Amanzimtoti
A container of pitch, being used by contractors to cement slabs of polystyrene insulation
material to the walls and ceiling of a cold storage room, was over-turned and the pitch was
ignited by a blow torch. The resultant fire spread via the polystyrene lining to involve
bunched electric cables and the roof insulation.
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Hospital – Grahamstown
A fire broke out at 23:25 after welders had been working in the roof void during the day.
The fire involved the timber frame walls, pressed wood chip panels and vinyl wall linings,
and destroyed one wing of the single storey building.
Produce market – Vereeniging
Two men sleeping in one of the uncompleted cold rooms of a new fresh produce market,
awoke to find that a large pile of polystyrene slabs stored in the room had been ignited by a
candle they were using for light. One man was trapped by the fire and a long delay ensued
before the Brigade was summoned, there being no telephone available on the site.
Office block – Pretoria
A fire in a storage area of building materials on the second floor of a multi-storey office
building under construction was started by a candle used by workers who slept amongst
cardboard boxes in the area. The fire caused severe spalling of the reinforced concrete
floor above and firemen were hampered by a lack of water for the fighting purposes
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HAZARDS ON THE BUILDING SITE
Smoking materials
Smoking should be prohibited in storage huts, fuel storage areas, paint shops and spraypainting areas as well as any area designated by the clerk of works or building foreman to
be unsafe. Large symbolic safety signs indicating “No Smoking” should be displayed.
Combustible refuse
Wood shavings and offcuts, packing materials, plastics materials, empty paint tins, dirty
rags and cotton waste, should be collected daily and dumped in refuse containers outside
the building. These containers should be positioned in a remote area of the site so as not
to create an exposure hazard to site offices, stores, the building itself or adjoining
premises.
Cutting and welding
Flame producing equipment such as blow lamps, brazing, welding and cutting torches are
one of the main causes of fires on building sites. If any “hot work” has to be done inside
the building, a “hot work” permit should be issued after all combustible material has been
removed and wetted and openings in walls and especially floors have been covered up.
Always have a fire extinguisher handy.
Electricity
Cables and wires are used extensively for temporary electric services. During building
operations and alterations insulation is often subjected to mechanical damage by wheelbarrows and fork lift trucks moving over them and it is essential that these cables and wires
are routed carefully to prevent unnecessary damage. Vibration also damages insulation
and wires should therefore be properly secured especially when passing through openings
in walls and floors. Regular checks should also be made on joints and flexible leads.
Remember damage to insulation will cause short circuits.
Flammable liquids
When highly flammable liquids or gases are being used on site it is important that local
municipal by-laws are complied with. Municipalities limit amounts which may be kept on
site unless stored in a properly constructed flammable liquid store. Small quantities of
petrol, methylated spirit, cellulose solutions, paint strippers, acetone and thinners, etc.,
should be kept in strong metal cans, or safety containers.
Temporary farm tanks containing a maximum of 2 500  diesoline are sometimes permitted
on excavation and construction sites providing suitable bund walls are constructed around
the tank, and a 9 kg dry chemical powder extinguisher is provided close by. Such tanks
should be situated at least 5 m from any protected work or public thoroughfare.
Always consult the local fire brigade before storing and handling flammable liquids on site
as specific requirements may vary from one municipality to another.
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Gas cylinders
Cylinders should be stored at ground level well clear of any buildings in a wire mesh
enclosure preferably with a protective covering and free of vegetation and rubbish. Notices
prohibiting smoke or naked flames should be prominently displayed around the storage
site.
Full and empty cylinders should be stored separately and properly marked. Also keep
oxygen cylinders apart from flammable gas cylinders. The clerk of works or foreman
should regularly inspect cylinders in use to ensure that they are safely used and are in
good condition with no leaks in valves or hoses.
Contractors sheds
On many sites, contractor’s huts, site offices or change rooms are located inside the
building under construction. These often contain large quantities of combustible materials,
temporary electric wiring and valuable irreplaceable plans, blueprints, specification sheets
and project records. As these sheds are usually constructed of combustible partitioning it
should be recognised that fire can spread from them to involve the building or vice versa.
Duplicate sets of important records should be kept by architects and contractors therefore
and preferably these huts or sheds should be at least 6 m from other buildings.
FIRE PROTECTION
Water supplies via fire service mains, hydrant connections, hose-reels and booster
connections should be provided as early as possible and rising mains should be extended
and commissioned as each floor is completed. Many municipal regulations now require
this to be done to enable fire brigades to tackle fires on upper floors during construction
work. Experience has shown that serious damage has occurred to buildings which do not
have fire-fighting water readily available during their construction.
Sprinklers
Fires have seriously damaged new buildings only days before the completion of sprinkler
systems. It is advisable to order the pipes, sprinkler heads, pumps and valves, well in
advance so as to reduce installation time to a minimum.
Extinguishers
Sufficient fire extinguishers should be provided and distributed throughout buildings under
construction to protect machine shops, storage areas, painting areas etc and they should
be well indicated. Contractors staff should be shown how they operate.
Specific responsibility
In large construction projects it is advisable to have someone specifically responsible for
fire protection on sire. His duties should include identifying and controlling existing and
new fire hazards, provision and commissioning of fire provision equipment, fire prevention
inspections, instruction of all employees on site into what to do in the event of fire and the
provision of adequate fire instruction notices.
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References:
British Engine Bulletin – April 1974, Vol 8 No. 1
Department of the Environment UK Advisory leaflet No. 63.
Published by
Fire Protection Association of Southern Africa
(Incorporated Association not for Gain)
(Reg. No. 73/00022/08)
P O Box 15467
Impala Park
1472
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