Fire Safety Management
in Traditional
Buildings Part 1: Principles
and
Practice
such as bell towers or spires can present special risks and are frequently poorly separated from other roof spaces. Roofs may contribute to the overall fuel loading (literally, the potential quantity of combustible material) of a traditional building, as roofs often have substantial timber structural elements and timber sarking. For example large roof domes in civic buildings are often double skinned and contain large quantities of structural timbers with little fire resistance from below and little internal division. Structural roof timbers may have also been rendered friable as a result of insect attack. Some forms of timber treatments that use a flammable liquid as a carrier for the insecticide, may aggravate this problem.
of the National Trust for Scotland)
The fuel loading is also commonly enhanced as roof voids have a tendency to be used as storage spaces. This poses an additional fire hazard due to the build up of combustible materials and debris. Fire strategies should ensure that all debris is removed.
Illus 25 Substantial hidden void above a coombed ceiling in a traditionally constructed building. Voids can aggravate fire spread and should be considered when assessing risk
Illus 27 A common occurrence in various types of properties is the storage of infrequently or unused items in attic spaces, adding to the fuel load in these vulnerable areas © Crown Copyright: RCAHMS.
Illus 24 Attic roof void with the additional fuel loading of a timber vaulted dome, Culross Palace, Fife © Stewart Kidd (by kind permission
Licensor www.rcahms.gov.uk
Illus 26 Large attic spaces with no compartmentation are common and facilitate the rapid spread of fire © Crown Copyright: RCAHMS. Licensor www.rcahms.gov.uk
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