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Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: BazaJT on 01 January 2016, 08:51:57

Title: Dubai fire
Post by: BazaJT on 01 January 2016, 08:51:57
I see on the news that a huge fire broke out in a skyscraper hotel in Dubai last night.From footage shown although no real time line was given it doesn't half seem to have taken hold and spread rather quickly!Luckily only minor injuries have been reported and no fatlities,so they've got off very lightly indeed.
Title: Re: Dubai fire
Post by: Shackeng on 01 January 2016, 11:59:46
I was staying in a friend's aptmnt on the 28th floor there at 'The Address' a couple of years ago, as there were several floors of apartments. Fantastic balcony views, but I'm glad we were'nt there yesterday. :o
Title: Re: Dubai fire
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 01 January 2016, 14:29:38
How the hell did that fire spread like that in a concrete building?  :o  :-\
Title: Re: Dubai fire
Post by: baggers on 01 January 2016, 15:40:12
How the hell did that fire spread like that in a concrete building?  :o  :-\

A lot of people are asking this.  It looked like it was fuelled between all them floors it was that quick.
Title: Re: Dubai fire
Post by: STEMO on 01 January 2016, 15:46:37
Some very weird updraughts around those tall buildings, could have been oxygen fed.
Title: Re: Dubai fire
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 01 January 2016, 16:16:41
Really makes you wonder at the construction methods, as I don't think that is the first 'Towering Inferno' in Dubai?  :-\
Title: Re: Dubai fire
Post by: Andy H on 01 January 2016, 16:17:44
How the hell did that fire spread like that in a concrete building?  :o  :-\
My guess is that the building is clad with flammable cladding - somewhat like the Summerland leisure centre (but not as deadly apparently)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summerland_disaster (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summerland_disaster)
Title: Re: Dubai fire
Post by: Nick W on 01 January 2016, 18:47:34
How the hell did that fire spread like that in a concrete building?  :o :-\


Surely hotels are full of 'stuff' that isn't concrete?
Title: Re: Dubai fire
Post by: Varche on 01 January 2016, 19:32:22
I'll be interested in the evacuation procedures.
Title: Re: Dubai fire
Post by: 05omegav6 on 01 January 2016, 23:14:43
I'll be interested in the evacuation procedures.
Oh shit the building is on fire. Run.

Fire brigade finally arrived after breakfast.
Title: Re: Dubai fire
Post by: Shackeng on 01 January 2016, 23:28:18
How the hell did that fire spread like that in a concrete building?  :o  :-\
My guess is that the building is clad with flammable cladding - somewhat like the Summerland leisure centre (but not as deadly apparently)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summerland_disaster (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summerland_disaster)

My friend who lived on the 28th floor said it was Ally cladding(?) which burnt so fiercely, a bit like the ship that was hit in the Falklands. :-\
Title: Re: Dubai fire
Post by: 05omegav6 on 02 January 2016, 00:33:52
How the hell did that fire spread like that in a concrete building?  :o  :-\
My guess is that the building is clad with flammable cladding - somewhat like the Summerland leisure centre (but not as deadly apparently)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summerland_disaster (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summerland_disaster)

My friend who lived on the 28th floor said it was Ally cladding(?) which burnt so fiercely, a bit like the ship that was hit in the Falklands. :-\
Exactly the same as what caused the steel in WTC to melt... Aluminium burns like tissue paper once it gets started.
Title: Re: Dubai fire
Post by: Broomies Mate on 02 January 2016, 00:37:19
I'm going to guess at LOADS of lift shafts pulling beautifully clean Oxygenated air.

Mix that with a 'Fire Panel' where the operator is either unavailable, or busy 'getting the fudge out of there'..... I cannot speak for the system within this building, but the software would normally suggest (once fire is confirmed) drenching a floor below, and 2 or 3 floors above.

Quite obviously. none of this has happened.  Sadly, I doubt we'll get any true report.
Title: Re: Dubai fire
Post by: 05omegav6 on 02 January 2016, 00:41:52
Be interesting to see if they quietly demolish it...
Title: Re: Dubai fire
Post by: Broomies Mate on 02 January 2016, 00:51:55
Al, it'll be interesting to see if they (we) can learn from this.

All these new building techniques, all these fangled gadgets to suppress fire.

There is a Architect with a very twitchy bottom right now.
Title: Re: Dubai fire
Post by: Andy H on 02 January 2016, 08:25:29
I'm going to guess at LOADS of lift shafts pulling beautifully clean Oxygenated air.

Mix that with a 'Fire Panel' where the operator is either unavailable, or busy 'getting the fudge out of there'..... I cannot speak for the system within this building, but the software would normally suggest (once fire is confirmed) drenching a floor below, and 2 or 3 floors above.

Quite obviously. none of this has happened.  Sadly, I doubt we'll get any true report.
With a report of zero fatalities I think the core fire protection must have worked - fire proof doors or lobbies would have prevented the lift shafts acting as chimneys and the sprinkler system doesn't require somebody at a fire control panel to operate it - each sprinkler head is designed to go off if the temperature rises above 70 degC, the drench system you described would be very unusual.

Buildings in the UAE tend to be designed to American codes, the fire protection would have been designed to NFPA standards.

A fire in the cladding is likely to have bypassed the sprinkler system. Perhaps somebody decided that there was no significant risk of the cladding ever being set alight :-\

The fire control panels are used to switch ventilation fans on to pressurise escape staircases during a fire and to clear smoke from an area once the fire has been extinguished.
Title: Re: Dubai fire
Post by: TheBoy on 02 January 2016, 11:05:11
I'll be interested in the evacuation procedures.
Jump.
Title: Re: Dubai fire
Post by: 05omegav6 on 02 January 2016, 13:08:02
I'll be interested in the evacuation procedures.
Jump.
A nylon wing suit would be just the thing... lightweight, durable, flam... Oh darn it ::)
Title: Re: Dubai fire
Post by: Mr Gav on 02 January 2016, 13:42:40

A fire in the cladding is likely to have bypassed the sprinkler system. Perhaps somebody decided that there was no significant risk of the cladding ever being set alight :-\


Usually you would have a fire barrier at floor slab level to prevent fire spreading floor to floor.
Title: Re: Dubai fire
Post by: Broomies Mate on 02 January 2016, 23:12:01
I'm going to guess at LOADS of lift shafts pulling beautifully clean Oxygenated air.

Mix that with a 'Fire Panel' where the operator is either unavailable, or busy 'getting the fudge out of there'..... I cannot speak for the system within this building, but the software would normally suggest (once fire is confirmed) drenching a floor below, and 2 or 3 floors above.

Quite obviously. none of this has happened.  Sadly, I doubt we'll get any true report.
With a report of zero fatalities I think the core fire protection must have worked - fire proof doors or lobbies would have prevented the lift shafts acting as chimneys and the sprinkler system doesn't require somebody at a fire control panel to operate it - each sprinkler head is designed to go off if the temperature rises above 70 degC, the drench system you described would be very unusual.

Buildings in the UAE tend to be designed to American codes, the fire protection would have been designed to NFPA standards.

A fire in the cladding is likely to have bypassed the sprinkler system. Perhaps somebody decided that there was no significant risk of the cladding ever being set alight :-\

The fire control panels are used to switch ventilation fans on to pressurise escape staircases during a fire and to clear smoke from an area once the fire has been extinguished.

Oh.... I just can't be bothered.  :-X
Title: Re: Dubai fire
Post by: Andy H on 04 January 2016, 21:26:17
http://news.yahoo.com/dubai-blaze-raises-questions-over-gulf-skyscraper-design-160747983--finance.html# (http://news.yahoo.com/dubai-blaze-raises-questions-over-gulf-skyscraper-design-160747983--finance.html#)