The Evolution of Fire Safety

You may imagine that current fire safety measures are simply a few documented common sense procedures, which were thought up by someone who recognised a need to have some guidelines in place, particularly for those of us who lack the common sense to know exactly what to do in the event of a fire!

 In reality, the current statutory provisions, which exist in the UK, are the result of a very slow evolution over many centuries. Fortunately for us, we now have very comprehensive fire safety regulations but sadly they were all brought about through the downfall and disasters of other poor souls.

If we take a quick look back through the centuries we can trace the origins of Fire Safety and how each regulation came into being:

Middle Ages

• Houses in medieval England were generally timber-framed, filled in with wattle and daub and had thatched roofs. 
• Within towns and cities, these houses were crowded side by side in narrow, winding alleyways and streets.
• Open fires were usually centrally placed and provided cooking and heating.  With floors being covered by straw it is easy to see how fires started and once started, spread rapidly.
• After William the Conqueror came to the throne, in 1066, he commanded that all fires should be extinguished at night.

Twelfth Century

• The population of London was thought to be around 18,000 and the threat of fire was constant.
• The Mayor of London passed laws stating that walls, within the city, must be constructed of stone and thatched roofs were not permitted. Party walls should be of minimum height and thickness. These laws were mostly ignored.

Thirteenth Century

• During one disastrous fire, in London, an estimated 3000 people died.
• Afterwards, materials used in the construction of alehouses, bakeries and brew-houses were supposedly governed.
• Firefighting equipment was required to be available during the summer months – this consisted of a tub of water!

Fourteen Century

• Central hearths moved to outside walls.
• By the end of the century, the use of chimneys became more common but they were mostly made from hollowed out logs which led to far worse fire hazards.

Fifteenth Century

• Timber chimneys were banned.
• The first Act of Parliament, which related to fire, was written.  It covered fire-fighting methods and the penalties for causing fires – but only concerned Scotland!

Seventeenth Century

• The Great Fire of London was the single most devastating event to lead to the emergence of fire safety regulations – in four short days almost all of London had been razed to the ground; luckily, loss of life was minimal, considering the scale of the disaster (6 people).

o   London acquired its first complete code of building regulations and means for its implementation:

• Main streets were to be widened to prevent fire spread
• All existing narrow alleyways were to be reduced
• A survey of every ruin and ownership shown of every plot was instigated.

Eighteenth Century

• The Fire Prevention (Metropolis) Act of 1774 listed buildings into 7 classes and covered thickness of external walls and party walls, etc.  London boroughs were to appoint Surveyors and each parish should have three or more proper ladders. 

Nineteenth Century

• During the 19th century, provisions were finally made for the safety of people within premises on fire.
• The first municipal fire brigade in the world was established in Edinburgh, in 1824, led by James Braidwood.
• London followed in 1832 with the London Fire Engine Establishment.
• Dozens upon dozens of serious fires during this period led to ever more by-laws being created each time something new was discovered on both the cause and prevention of fires.

Twentieth – Twenty-first Century

• Many laws came into force during this period and by the turn of the millennium fire safety had changed substantially to cover the majority of workplaces and public buildings. 
• The Fire Services Act 1947 transferred the National Fire Service to Fire Brigades maintained by County Councils and County Boroughs.
• The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 replaced over 70 previous fire safety laws.

It is highly unlikely that the evolution of fire safety is at a standstill. To this very day, building methods and the materials used in construction are constantly changing.  Perhaps these changes may lead to greater safety but they will, nevertheless, require the tweaking and amending of current regulations. It is a constant work in progress!