While all modern buildings include the provision of a range of fire safety measures intended to protect the lives of occupants, these are not things that can be taken for granted in the case of structures built before 1961. The recent serious fire to the Glasgow School of Art demonstrates just how vulnerable our built heritage can be. Ironically, a fire suppression system was in the process of being installed in this iconic structure. Current Building Regulations and standards demand that occupants are able to exit the premises safely and quickly without resorting to features such as vertical ladders, ropes or hoists. Problems can therefore arise if an old building is to be subject to a major refurbishment or adaptive reconstruction is being considered.
展开▼
