FIRE IN TIMBER FRAME CONSTRUCTED HOUSES, NEWCASTLE, CO. DUBLIN. JULY 2009

PICTURE 1

PICTURE 2, NEWCASTLE CONTINUED

PICTURE 3, CLOSE UP OF FIRE DAMAGE AND CAVITY BARRIER FAILURE

PICTURE 4, NO EAVES BLOCKS

PICTURE 5, INADEQUATE CAVITY BARRIERS IN THE VERTICAL, NOTE THE GAPS

PICTURE 6, PARTY WALL OF MASONRY AND PART TIMBER FRAME CONSTRUCTION

PICTURE 7, NO CAVITY BARRIER / FIRE STOPPING

PICTURE 8, INADEQUATE FIRE STOPPING AT EAVES LEVEL AND IN THE VERTICAL

PICTURE 9, PHOTOGRAPHED FROM THE INSIDE OF THE ADJOINING ATTIC SPACE. NOTE THE INADEQUATE FIXING OF THE PLASTER SLABS WHICH ARE ALSO NOT STAGGERED AT THE JOINTS. NOTE ALSO THAT THERE HAD BEEN SMOKE PENETRATION THROUGH THE JOINTS DURING THE FIRE.

PICTURE 10, THE PARTY WALL WITHIN THE ROOF SPACE IS OF PART MASONRY AND TIMBER FRAME CONSTRUCTION

PICTURE 11, TAKEN FROM THE INSIDE OF THE ADJOINING ATTIC SHOWING THE INADEQUATE JOINTING AND FIXING OF THE PARTY WALL SLABS

PICTURE 12, ALLEGED LOCATION / POINT OF ORIGIN OF FIRE, NOTE THE PLASTER DABS

PICTURE 13, NOTE THE SMOKE STAINING TO THE BLOCK WORK AND THE FIRE PENETRATION AT CEILING LEVEL INTO THE ROOF SPACE

PICTURE 14, AS PER PICTURE 13, NOTE THE DABS ARE CLEAN AND NOT SMOKE STAINED

PICTURE 15, MORE OF THE SAME

PICTURE 16, TAKEN AT THE REAR OF THE BUILDING

PICTURE 17, AS PER PICTURE 16

PICTURE 18, PARTY WALL WITHIN THE ROOF SPACE / ATTIC OF MASONRY AND TIMBER FRAME CONSTRUCTION

PICTURE 19, THE OPEN CAVITY WITHIN THE TIMBER FRAME PARTY WALL

PICTURE 20, VIEW INTO CAVITY AT THE PARTY WALL ALIGNMENT

PICTURE 21, NOTE THE CAVITY BEHIND THE PLASTER BOARD AS FIXED TO THE DABS

PICTURE 22, NOTE FAILURE OF CAVITY BARRIERS

PICTURE 23, AS PER PICTURE 22 BARRIER FAILURE

PICTURE 24, BARRIER FAILURE AT WALL PLATE LEVEL

PICTURE 25, AS PER PICTURE 24, MORE OF THE SAME

PICTURE 26, TIMBER TO MASONRY INADEQUATE FIXING

PICTURE 27, AS PER PICTURE 26

PICTURE 28, CEILING LINE OF PLASTER BOARD NOT SKIMMED OR SEALED OFF, ELECTRIC WIRES BEHIND WALL SLABBING CONDUIT FOR FIRE SPREAD

PICTURE 29, NOTE THE LACK OF FIXING OF THE PLASTER SLABS AS PHOTOGRAPHED FROM THE ADJOINING PROPERTY

PICTURE 30, INADEQUATE PARTY WALL FIRE STOPPING AT ROOF LEVEL

PICTURE 31, NOTE THE HEAT RADIATION TO THE ADJOINING ATTIC SPACE

PICTURE 32, SIDE VIEW OF THE PLASTER SLABS AS FIXED TO THE MASONRY PARTY WALL, NOTE THE CAVITIES

PICTURE 33, NOTE THE MELT DOWN OF THE FASCIA / SOFFIT ON THE NEIGHBOURING PROPERTY WHICH WAS 3 METRES AWAY FROM THE FIRE THIS WAS CAUSED BY HEAT RADIATION

PICTURE 34, NOTE THE USELESS CAVITY BARRIERS

PICTURE 35, MORE OF THE SAME

PICTURE 36, MORE OF THE SAME, NOTE ALSO THE INADEQUATE FIXING

PICTURE 37, TYPICAL ELECTRIC FIXINGS

PICTURE 38, NOTE THE STEEL GANG NAILING PLATES TO THE JOISTS AS PHOTOGRAPHED FROM ABOVE

PICTURE 39, AS PER PHOTOGRAPH 38, CLOSE UP

PICTURE 40, THE GANG NAILING COMES AWAY IN MY HAND

PICTURE 41, THIS AMOUNTS TO INADEQUATE FIXING WHEN A FIRE OCCURS

PICTURE 42, INADEQUATE PENETRATION OF THE GANG NAILING TEETH INTO THE TIMBER JOIST

PICTURE 43, AS PER PICTURE 42

PICTURE 44, NOTE THE TWIN SOCKETS WHICH WERE LOCATED UNDER THE KITCHEN SINK

PICTURE 45, HEAT RADIATION TO FUSE BOARD IN THE FRONT HALL

PICTURE 46, UNEXPLAINED FIRE DAMAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE HALL DOOR

SUSTAINABILITY WHAT SUSTAINABILITY / COMPLIANCE WHAT COMPLIANCE

Purchasers are for the most part unaware that their homes are unsafe, particularly where fire and fire spread is concerned within and between such buildings.  Acoustics and installation standards are also not being adhered to.  Accordingly the long term sustainability of such construction and assembly of timber frame houses and / or apartments as referenced is very questionable. 

Compliance with what ?  Inspected by who ?  Certified by who ?  Guaranteed and / or insured by who ?  Legally signed off by who ?  Such non-compliant dangerous timber frame construction is the norm rather than the exception, and can be found all over Ireland !  Such construction and the alleged certification of same from whatever source can only be described as criminal.  Such behaviour is also a jailable offence as it is to knowingly put people and property at risk.  How can this happen in a modern Ireland ?  I would say quite easily, as purchasers are unaware of the following: 

A)    Engineers and Architects signing off such construction using the words substantial compliance (partially pregnant) = A Disclaimer.

B)    Banks, Building Societies and Insurers appear not to question such happenings !

C)    Structural guarantees and / or insurances provided by whoever, when thoroughly examined are found to be questionable to say the least.

D)    Engineering and architectural institutes and such like bodies through their ignorance, arrogance or otherwise have been aiding and abetting such non-compliant un-certifiable dangerous construction, which amounts to reckless endangerment.

E)    Builders / Developers using timber frame construction methods allege / infer in their literature through the use of the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) logo that their houses / apartments are NSAI approved, which of course is not the case.  No such approval is given for the erection of timber frame houses and / or apartments onsite.  The NSAI only provides an audit on the timber frame manufacturing process, and note: for houses only (Not Apartments).

F)   However it should also be noted that under the auspices of the NSAI, the Irish Agrément Board (IAB) have issued an IAB certificate on similar timber frame construction methods, which can be viewed on this website, reference for example: Airside, Swords, which were similarly destroyed by fire in 2007.  Such IAB incorrect certification and endorsement, whilst challenged by my colleagues and I, is still in place, which in its continuance, creates potential for further State liability.

G)    Conveyancing (Legal Process), compliance with our National Mandatory Building and Fire Regulations, and the confirmation of same onsite, through proper certification by Architects / Engineers and the provision of structural guarantees or similar through insurance are prerequisite to the sale or purchase of a new property.  This raises serious questions with regards to the issues of non-compliance as raised above, particularly when one takes into account that compliance with planning permission and Building Regulations is part of the legal title to a house or building ! 

THE PURCHASER DILEMMA

The above are only examples of how purchasers are mislead by the industry and the Legal profession as a whole where alleged compliance with our National Mandatory Building and Fire Regulations is concerned.  Furthermore where it becomes known to them (The Purchaser) that their building / property is not up to standard, they become frightened, as such purchasers do not have the financial resources to take on the system that has put them in the position that they now find themselves in.  They are also afraid of any publicity that could result in the devaluing of their property.  Accordingly they may quietly sell up, and move on, or stay put, and take their chances.  Therefore for the most part the problems and issues as raised remain unchallenged and unreported.  Therein lies the purchaser's dilemma. 

We would conclude that the provision for a class action should be sought from our Courts thereby enabling legal action to be taken at reasonable cost to the individual homeowner.