NFPA Journal - September/October 2017 - 48

Research by Casey Grant

THE FIRE
PROTECTION
RESEARCH
FOUNDATION

Wake-Up Call
WHY THE GRENFELL TOWER FIRE WILL ULTIMATELY HAVE
A POSITIVE IMPACT ON FIRE SAFETY

he Grenfell Tower fire

We can also draw from important
disaster in London, which
work that has already been done. A 2014
is believed to have killed
report by the Fire Protection Research
at least 80 people in June,
Foundation, "Fire Hazards of Exterior
is an alarm that should
Wall Assemblies Containing Combustibe heard throughout the world. The fire
ble Components," compiled the technical
began in a fourth-floor apartment and
information needed to start addressing
spread to the outside of the structure,
this problem. The report includes inforigniting combustible materials in the
mation on past exterior fire spread events;
exterior wall assemblies that covered
approval and regulatory requirements
the building. Flames raced up the side of
around the world; relevant test methods;
the 24-story building, engulfing it before
listing criteria; fire scenarios; and possible
many residents had time to escape.
future testing approaches. The report also
Grenfell is a crucial
For years, many countries have largely
looked at the effectiveness of NFPA 285,
and tragic wake-up
ignored or misunderstood the inherent
Standard Fire Test Method for Evaluation
danger of the type of combustible exteof Fire Propagation Characteristics of Extecall, one I believe
rior wall assemblies used in Grenfell and
rior Non-Load-Bearing Wall Assemblies
will be a milestone in
likely thousands of other high-rise buildContaining Combustible Components, used
the historical fire
ings across the globe. Grenfell is a crucial
throughout North America and other parts
record that will
and tragic wake-up call, one I believe
of the world (though not the United Kingultimately serve as a
will be a milestone in the historical fire
dom). It found that NFPA 285 has been
catalyst for sweeping
record that will ultimately serve as a cateffective at minimizing exterior floor-topositive change.
alyst for sweeping positive change. It's
floor fire spread in real-world applications.
a crucial moment, since the number of
Greater awareness, coupled with research,
high-rise buildings continues to increase
is needed to ensure this and other test
dramatically as the world undergoes the
methods remain as efficient as possible,
largest wave of urban growth in history.
while maintaining their effectiveness.
But addressing this issue will not be easy. The most immediate
Obviously, there is still much work to do and the charge
task is to take stock of buildings potentially at risk-some regions before us is daunting. Unfortunately, there are no simple unihave thousands of high-rise buildings. How many use these kinds versal mitigation measures to effectively make this category of
of combustible wall assemblies? How dangerous are they?
high-rise buildings safe. Replacing exterior walls that contain
To assist, NFPA has launched a project to develop a tool that combustible components is not always the best solution, and
will help building owners and code enforcers evaluate the fire when it is, it will likely take years to fully implement.
risk of these exterior wall systems used on high-rise buildings in
Those who work closely in the world of model codes are
their jurisdiction, based on variables such as materials, config- familiar with the continual struggle to represent the will of
urations, building fire protection systems, exposures, etc. With society on complex technical issues, often against the backdrop
the tool, officials and owners can begin to prioritize buildings of of limited resources. In this case, society has finally wakened to
greatest concern for remediation. NFPA has already assembled a the dangers of combustible exterior wall assemblies in high-rise
global engineering team that will develop the tool and an advi- buildings, and the resulting loss of life is unacceptable. Working
sory panel of global stakeholders and key experts to oversee it. together, we can respond to and answer this alarm.
The project is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
(For more on the project, see "London Calling" on page 36.)
CASEY GRANT is executive director of the Fire Protection Research Foundation.

48 | NFPA JOURNAL * S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 1 7

MICHAEL HOEWELER

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NFPA Journal - September/October 2017