Building Safety Crisis on Newsnight: Timber frame fires (06/12/22)

[@SomaticPSIP-zm8lz]

The wood is not the problem, it's the Celotex and Kingspan foam they fill the spaces with. In a UK timber frame house the wiring sits right next to the flammable insulation. The only protection between the people and the flammable insulation is a piece of plasterboard, but this plasterboard has holes cut into it all over the house for sockets, switches and fan outlets. If all timber frame houses only used mineral wool they would be much safer, but this needs thicker walls which the building companies don't want to pay for.

[@endourcladdingscandal4122]

@somaticPSIP-zm9lz Lack of firestopping when holes are cut for services is indeed a common issue. But as mentioned in the clip, missing and defective cavity barriers are also a problem - and that has got nothing to do with the type of insulation and whether it is combustible. FYI, the building being discussed in this programme had mineral wool insulation (not Celotex or Kingspan foam).

[@gren509]

Lots of other countries use timber frame safely - why don't we copy their rules ?

[@russellfreestone8580]

Brick faced sheds.