Source · Prevention of Future Deaths

Ellen Kelly

Ref: 2016-0451 Date: 12 Dec 2016 Coroner: Edwin Buckett Area: London Inner (North) Responses identified: 1 / 1 View PDF

Residential fire safety is compromised by flat front doors lacking self-closing mechanisms and failing to meet 30-minute fire resistance standards, leading to rapid fire spread and trapping residents.

Date 12 Dec 2016

56-day deadline 9 Apr 2017 est.

Responses identified 1 of 1

Community health care and emergency services related deaths Other related deaths

Coroner's concerns

AI summary

View full coroner's concerns

Evidence was given by Watch Manager from the London Fire Brigade that:

1. is a block owned by London Borough of Camden.
2. At the time of the fire, the front door of Flat 13 was left open whilst the occupant went to raise the alarm. This caused the fire to spread more quickly than would have been the case had the door been shut. It also caused smoke to disperse in the common parts of the building.
3. Another family was trapped in Flat 15 (above Flat 13) until the London Fire Brigade attended.
4. The front door of Flat 13 should have been fitted with a self-closing mechanism but was not.
5. Other front doors in the block identified by the London Fire Brigade when they attended were not of a suitable standard in that they did not comply with the 30 minute fire resistant British Standard.

I consider that it is likely that there are front doors of flats within Kilburn Gate which do not have: a. A proper self-closing mechanism in accordance with legal requirements as this was the case with the door to Flat 13, and b. Do not comply with the relevant British Standard, in that they are not fire resistant for 30 minutes or more.

Responses

1 respondent

London Borough of Camden Local Authority / Fire Service

27 Jan 2017 PDF

Action Taken

The London Borough of Camden has a programme to improve fire safety in council housing, including regular meetings with the Fire Service, fire safety works to 4,500 high priority housing properties already completed. The work is comprehensive and includes renewal or upgrading flat entrance doors to FD3Os standard, signage, emergency lighting installations and fire stopping. Fire safety works have been prioritized for Kilburn Gate and have been tendered which includes installing new FD3Os flat entrance doors incorporating door closers, renewal of communal intake doors and redecoration of communal areas to Class 0 fire resistant standard. The council promotes fire safety through their Newsletter and website and has provided fire safety awareness training to estate services and other housing staff. (AI summary)

View full response

Dear Mr Buckett Response to Coroner's Regulation 28: Prevention of Future Deaths report Ellen Eileen Margaret Kelly The London Borough of Camden takes its responsibilities for fire safety in its Housing stock seriously and we will take action to address the concerns that have been raised. The Council already has a significant programme in place to improve fire safety in council housing We hold regular meetings with the Fire Service to review safety and risk assessments and a ESm programme of fire safety works to 4,500 high priority housing properties has already been completed. The scope of the works is comprehensive and includes renewal or upgrading flat entrance doors to FD3Os" standard, signage, emergency lighting installetions and fire stopping: The work aiso includes review and attention to surface spread of flame in means of escape provision. The council employs specialists to assist in specification and delivery of the programme and has appointed a fire safety advisor (recruited from the London Fire Service) to help assess risk and advise on fire protection. For 2017/18,the projected spend on fire safety is over E1Om and is again concentrated on higher risk properties The works include upgrading or renewing flat entrance doors to FD3OS standard, renewal or upgrading of communal doors, installing fire alarm system to street properties, installing emergency lighting and fire stopping (compartmentation): In addition, the council's Better Homes (building fabric and communal repairs) programme will incorporate fire safety works on each block where work is undertaken. In regards to Kilburn Gate, fire safety works have been prioritised and have been tendered_ This work includes installing new FD3Os flat entrance doors incorporating door closers_ renewal of communal intake doors and redecoration of communal areas to Class 0 fire resistant standard_ We are currently consulting with Leaseholders in the block (as required by section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985) and this consultation is due to be completed in mid-February and the works are expected to commence in March 2017. very

The council promotes fire safety to residents through our Newsletter and on the Camden website which also contains links to the London Fire Brigade website advice pages We have also provided fire safety awareness training to our estate services and other housing If you have any query on the above please do not hesitate to contact me_

Report sections

Investigation and inquest

On 20th July 2016 Senior Coroner Hassell began an investigation into the death of Ellen Eileen Margaret Kelly who died aged 86 on the 16th July, 2016 at St Mary’s Hospital Paddington.

The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 12th December 2016 conducted by myself, Assistant Coroner Edwin Buckett.

I made a determination at inquest that the deceased died as a result of smoke inhalation injuries sustained as a result of a house fire at which occurred on the 7th July, 2016.

Circumstances of the death

On the 7th July, 2016 Ellen Eileen Margaret Kelly had a cigarette at her home address which she did not fully extinguish. She placed it into a carrier bag containing other cigarette butts and this caught fire. An extensive fire then occurred at the flat and she suffered smoke inhalation injuries and died on the 16th July, 2016 at St Marys Hospital, Paddington.

Copies sent to

, Commissioner, London Fire BrigadeLondon Fire and Emergency Planning Authority

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Shared signals

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Report details

Reference: 2016-0451
Date of report: 12 December 2016
Coroner: Edwin Buckett
Coroner area: London Inner (North)

Responses identified

Responses identified 1 of 1

All listed responses identified

Organisations named in PFD reports are normally expected to respond within 56 days. Deadline: 9 Apr 2017 (estimated).

Sent to

London Borough of Camden

Source links

Judiciary.uk page → Report PDF →

Data: judiciary.uk under OGL.