THE MADRID FIRE 12/02/05Paul Jenkins - London Fire Brigade.

Fire Engineering Group

Introduction

• Why was there so much interest in this fire?

• Comparison with 9/11

• Steel/Concrete lobbies

• Fire engineering vs. prescriptive design

• Fire Dynamics/High Rise F/fighting

Scope of presentation• The Building

• The Fire

• Conclusions

• Q&A/Discussion

Location

The Building

Torre Windsor

Built in 1978

32 storeys, 29 above ground and 3 below

Concrete/brick core, reinforced concrete structural frame and floors

Internal concrete columns supported the floors along with steel beams

Steel perimeter-columns carried up to 15% of floor loading

Massive concrete ‘transfer’ floors at 3rd and 17th floor levels

This resulted in a fairly open plan floor

It also allowed a structural column-free façade at ground floor level by carrying perimeter-column loads

CONSTRUCTION

The Building

17th Floor

Perimeter Columns

Concrete Transfer FloorsShear walls

Concrete Columns

3rd Floor

Concrete Columns

Concrete Shear Walls in Facade

New Escape Stair

Original

Escape

Stair

Under-floor Steel Beam

The Building- Typical floor plan 4th to 16th

Concrete Columns Under-floor steel beam

Floor slab supported peripherally by perimeter columns

The Building- Typical floor plan 17th to 27th

Reinforced ConcreteCeramic Block

(Waffle Slab)

Screed

Plaster Cover

10m Span Steel I-beam

230mm thick slab, 30mm plaster coat and 30mm screed

The Building - typical floor section

Fire Protection as designed

Did not have:

• Sprinklers

Did have:

• Compartment floors

• Fire protected steel columns below 17th floor

• Vertical shafts forming separate compartments

• 1 – 1.5m depth vertical fire protection along the

perimeter slab edge

The Fire

FIRE DEVELOPMENT • Fire started on 21st floor, about 23:00 hrs

• Fire spread upwards from floor of origin

• By 01:15 fire had spread to most floors above 21st floor (10 storey fire, 21 floors up!)

• Fire spread downwards from floor of origin

• Eventually stopped at 2nd floor

The Fire

TIME LINE - FIRE FIGHTING • Detected about 23:05 hrs, initial actions by

security staff

• First call to Brigade at 23:21 hrs, arrival 23:25

• Intervention commenced at 23:40 hrs

• Stairs used to reach 21st floor, attempts made to apply water internally (DRM’s)

• Crews retreated at about 01:00 hrs, defensive fire fighting action adopted.

• Fire eventually out about 24 hrs later

Concrete Columns Under-floor steel beams

Structural Fire Damage to Upper Floors

New Escape Stair still standing

The Building after the fire - upper floors

Indicative arrangement of stair, lobby and doors

Dry riser

Lobby

Fire Fighting Access

Firefightinglobby

Firefightinglift in shaft

FirefightingStairs

Accommodation

Dry riser

Basic Layout

Dry riser

Firefighting lobby

Firefighting lift in shaft

Firefighting Stairs

Accommodation

May be omitted in residential accommodation

Direct entry at FF access level - may

be by corridor

Vent 25% Lobby plan

area

Vent 15% stair plan area at

each floor

Vent 5% stair plan

area at top of enclosure

“B” Doc BS 5588 Part 5 Layout

Vent 15% stair plan area min 1.5m2

Vent 25% Lobby plan area min

3m2

Vents to be open able at each level by the

fire service

Dry riser

Firefighting lobby

Firefighting lift in shaft

Firefighting Stairs

Vent 5% stair plan

area at top of enclosure

Accommodation

Direct entry at FF access level - may

be by corridor

“B” Doc BS 5588 Part 5 Layout - vent shafts

Dry riser

Firefighting lobby

Firefighting lift in shaft

Firefighting Stairs

Vent 5% stair plan

area at top of enclosure

Accommodation

Direct entry at FF access

level - may be by corridor

Shaft 25% Lobby plan area min

3m2

Vents to be automatic at each level min 1.5m2

Recommended opened for stair venting

by fire service

“B” Doc - BRE ‘Chimney’ – Shaft closed at bottom

Dry riser

Firefighting lobby

Firefighting lift in shaft

Firefighting Stairs

Accommodation

Direct entry at FF access

level - may be by corridor

Pressurised air supply

“B” Doc - 5588 Part 4 - Pressurisation

What can be learnt from this fire?

Initial Actions

Early call to the fire service

Fire Service access to the fire floor

Compartmentation/Sprinklers/Fire Protection/Fire Load

Fire Safety Management in occupied buildings undergoing refurbishment works

Structural implications/Fire Engineered approach

Conclusions

Real fires

Fire Investigation

London Fire Brigade

FIRE ENGINEERING GROUP

0207 587 6358

Thank You - Any Questions

30 -120 mins

30 -120 mins

30 -120 mins

Ease of

fire-fighting

Structural Response

Damage

Thank YouLFB Fire Engineering Group - 0207 587 6094

paul.jenkins@london-fire.gov.uk

Structural Response - upper floors