Not just a matter of life and death

摘要

I recently visited the Museum of London's exhibition marking the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of London. Building regulations, and building design more broadly, has obviously evolved - but I was also struck by the risks that remain. Regulations generally assume a non-combustible structure, and rightly prioritise the safety of building occupants and firefighters. They try to prevent the spread of fire to neighbouring buildings, but protecting the building itself and reducing damage is very much a secondary concern, as our Structures feature (page 16) notes, and these are typically relegated to a matter for the insurance industry.