Marta Vall-lossera Ferran, president of the Superior Council of Architects’ Associations of Spain (CSCAE), the highest representative of Spanish architects, emphasizes that “only a precise and rigorous diagnosis” will be able to clarify the voracious fire in Valencia.
What can explain the rapid spread of the fire?
While that will have to be determined by the investigation, it appears that one of the aggravating factors was wind speed.
The building was erected before the entry into force of the new technical building code of 2006. Shouldn’t the buildings built later meet the new requirements?
In 2006, the first building code was published, a mandatory compliance regulation that includes the need to ensure a class of reaction to fire for the materials contained in the construction systems. However, previously, following disasters such as those at the Alcalá 20 nightclubs (1983) or Flying de Saragossa (1990), there were the 1996 regulations on fire protection conditions that served as the basis for the technical code of 2006. Therefore, even if the technical building code of 2006 was not in force, there were mandatory fire protection regulations.
What materials were used in the coating?
Right now there is a lot of conjecture. First, a specific material was identified as responsible for the fire due to its technical characteristics. Then another one was pointed out. By itself, a certain reaction to fire cannot be attributed to a single material. We must talk about constructive systems made up of several layers.
This multi-layer coating, with a ventilation chamber, is complex.
In construction, it is usually necessary to refer to sums of materials and provisions. In other words, they are complex construction elements. The important thing, always, is to have the data sheets of the material, its characteristics and, in any case, the tests that ratify that the constructive element has a certain reaction to fire and that it is verified that it complies with the regulations, as well as knowing the expiration of the tests. So caution. Other factors in front of fire to consider in exteriors are the shape, the angles of the facades, the joints of the slab with the facade and the vertical and horizontal sectorization. Multiple factors must be managed to ensure fire safety.
Is it common to use polyethylene to give rigidity to the aluminum used in the skin of the building? The use of plastic materials can be surprising.
The review of the technical code of the building, from December 2019, clearly specifies that the material of the facade must have certain conditions of resistance to fire and reduces the risks that a case similar to the one in Valencia could be repeated.
Plastic materials are apparently combustible…
Only a precise and rigorous diagnosis will determine the causes and shed light on the facts.
Have they passed quality controls and ignition tests?
According to the information that is known, the basic and execution project with which the license was obtained should have included the justification of the fire regulations that were in force.
Which precedent of this type of facts would stand out?
Reference has been made to the Grenfell Tower fire in London both for the shape of the air chamber, the chimney effect, and for the materials used. However, until a rigorous investigation is carried out, it cannot be concluded that there were similarities before the fire.
Will it be necessary to make a review on some type of building?
It is very likely, due to the regrettable and sad events that took place, and always in accordance with the results that are finally reached, that the regulations will be tightened in favor of an increase in the safety of the citizen in the buildings. Tragedies such as Alcalá 20 and the Saragossa nightclub prompted the fire protection conditions of 1991, which were then improved in 1996. The Grenfell Tower fire undoubtedly influenced an improvement in regulations European and, therefore, in the technical building code of 2006.
Do they need to improve the rules?
Gradually, revisions have been made to the standard in order to improve fire safety. From the fire protection conditions to the latest revision of the technical code, which came into force in 2020 (specifically, the basic fire safety document), these regulations have been improving and been updating the versions to guarantee public safety, which is a maxim for the building sector.
Any advice…?
If any citizen has doubts about the material of which his building is made, he should contact a competent technician.
