FireDOC Search

Author
Long, R.
Title
Patients should not be put in peril by use of 'proven lethal' materials.
Coporate
South West Thames Regional Health Authority, London, England
Journal
Fire, Vol. 77, No. 952, 32-34, October 1984
Keywords
hazard control | smoke control | toxic hazards
Abstract
In this article, it is intended to summarise what has happened up to the present, what is taking place to control and reduce the hazards of fire, smoke and toxic fumes, and the possible solution to the problem by further research and guidance and the options open to us in the most important area of purpose group II buildings. In 1968 at Shelton, 24 girls perished in a fire in which the smoke and toxic fumes were able to spread so rapidly as to deny the chance of escape. The turning point was perhaps the Coldharbour fire in 1972 when 30 out of 36 psychiatric patients lost their lives due to the rapid spread of fire leading to flash-over in a very short space of time. Again in 1979 there was the fire at St. Crispin's, Northampton, a psychiatric hospital where six lives were lost as the result of a patient setting fire to a bed.