News - GBP900m fire loss sparks commercial data first.

(From Post Magazine)

Byline: Lynn Rouse.

A major research project has been launched to identify why large commercial fire losses have doubled and whether innovative building techniques are responsible.

The Fire Protection Association said that, in 2004, the value of commercial fire losses totalled GBP450m, rising to GBP900m in 2005 despite the number of fires remaining static. However, no industry-wide data currently exists on cause and there is no link to the fire service's own data, which informs building regulations.

Carried out on behalf of the Insurers' Fire Research Strategy Funding Scheme, the FPA hopes to publish its report by the end of the year. A key concern is whether so-called modern methods of construction - including the rapid expansion of the offsite construction industry, which is growing at 25% a year - could be resulting in disproportionate repair costs and longer business interruption periods. All UK commercial insurers are now being asked to provide data for fire losses in excess of GBP50,000 for the past five years, including: date of loss; location; amount - split between material damage and business interruption; occupancy; and cause - if known. Insurer data will then be cross-referenced with that of the fire service before any analysis takes place as to cause.

Dr Jim Glockling, technical director of the FPA, told Post: "MMC is just one of many issues that could be skewing the whole basis of large losses with fire and there are many other potential factors including the more widespread use of fire engineering and the emergence of much larger buildings - you only have to look at the massive distribution centres along the M1 corridor to illustrate this. Changes to the fire ...