Loss analysis
Main category: Dwelling Sub category: Purpose built flats/maisonettes up to three storeys Jan 2009 to Dec 2017: During this period, large loss fires in dwellings accounted for 20.4% of all large loss fires
The numbers: There were 910 large loss fires in dwellings, 45 of which occurred in flats and maisonettes of up to three storeys. Fires in flats and maisonettes of up to three storeys accounted for 0.8% of all large loss fires and 4.9% of fires in dwellings
Cause Dwellings
Flats/maisonettes up to three storeys Time of day
Dwellings
Flats/maisonettes up to three storeys Impedances
Dwellings Flats/maisonettes up to three storeys
Accidental 61.8% 70.8%
00:00 - 06:00 06:00 - 12:00 15.3% 6.1%
9.6% 4.1%
Total 110
0
Access 80
0
Deliberate 15.2% 22.9%
12:00 -18:00 13.9% 18.3%
Unknown/unassigned 22.4% 6.3%
18:00 - 00:00 16.1% 8.2%
Acetylene Inadequate water 0
0
23 0
Unknown 44.5% 63.3%
Resources 7
0
The cost: Fires in dwellings account for 7.9% of estimated financial losses in all large loss fires, with an average loss of £329,662 per fire. Fires in flats and maisonettes of up to three storeys account for 6.5% of the estimated large losses in dwellings, with an average cost of £373,140 per fire
Insurance component
Dwellings
Flats/maisonettes up to three storeys
Business
Building 86.0%
87.9%
interruption 0.8%
0.0%
no saucers can even ignite plastic baths in bathrooms. Hair straighteners and similar heat producing devices are very hot in use and retain their heat for some time after being turned off. They should be thought of as akin to irons and not put down on beds, carpets or other combustible surfaces. All fixed electrical wiring installations should be
inspected periodically as required by BS 7671, with the interval between inspections being stated on the test certificate. This is often five yearly, or at a change of tenancy for rented domestic premises. If the wiring has not been tested for some years a check should be made with the landlord to allow the safety of the installation to be determined. Similarly, damage to fixed wiring, socket outlets and similar fittings should be reported to the landlord for arrangements to be made to allow a competent electrician to make suitable repairs. In a similar way, annual testing of the gas
installation by a Gas Safe registered engineer should be arranged by the landlord and the results of the tests provided to tenants. Although in service electrical testing of portable electrical appliances (PAT testing) does not apply in a domestic environment, all portable electrical equipment should be given a brief visual inspection before each use. If damage is seen to the appliance, cable or plug, a competent electrician should be consulted. Some of the most common accidental fires in the home result from cooking activities, most of which can be avoided. Most importantly of all, avoid the use of pans of oil for deep fat frying:
Contents Loss of rent 3.7%
6.1% 0.0% Fires in flats and maisonettes of up to three storeys cost on average £749m2 10.8%
Machine and plant
0.1% 0.0%
Stock Other 0.2%
3.2% 0.0% 0.9% , whereas those in dwellings cost £741m2
this should only be undertaken using a proprietary thermostatically controlled fryer. Every home should have a suitable number of
smoke and/or heat alarms installed, together with carbon monoxide detectors where gas boilers may be operating. The alarms should be mains powered with battery backup and provide a warning loud enough to wake anyone at night (75dBA at the bed head). Domestic smoke and heat alarms should be tested periodically (ideally every week). Sadly, about one in five fires in flats and maisonettes
of up to three storeys are deliberately started. This figure has been about the same in all forms of dwellings for several years, and includes both attacks by occupiers as well as outsiders. When a new front door is fitted, avoid having a letter slot in an internal door. It is better to have a postal management system involving post boxes in a communal area or outside each door. Where there are existing letter slots, fitting a sheet metal container to catch any burning materials introduced via this route can be an effective precaution against fire setting. Proprietary containers are available with an integral automatic fire suppression system. Although a commercial style emergency plan is not required to be in place in the case of a dwelling, having a basic plan – so that everyone knows how to leave the home in an emergency, where to meet outside and how to call the fire and rescue service – is very worthwhile
Adair Lewis is technical consultant at the Fire Protection Association
These statistics are based on information supplied by loss adjusters to the FPA on a voluntary basis and not all insurers conducting business in the UK contribute to this dataset. They represent only sums paid out where the total loss is in excess of £100k and are deficient of losses under £100K, deductibles, underinsurance, uninsured, self-insured and captively insured components, which may be significant. In a year, total losses captured typically account for 50% of the ABI declared annual fire loss figure – which is similarly deficient of the same components (except the £100k threshold).
www.frmjournal.com JUNE 2018 57
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