[computeruser]

In light of the recent Marina Torch fire in Dubai today. I have noticed the fires have spread up the building facade. Are modern skyscrappers meeting fire codes.

In particular with aluminum composite cladding on buildings. Should there be a moratorium on aluminum composite construction. Should all existing aluminum composite buildings have the facades removed and replaced with a fire-resistant cladding. There have been so many documented cases reminiscent of these two similar towers.

 

[computeruser]

Marina Torch, Dubai

Burned external cladding on the corner of more than two dozen storeys from roughly the 51st floor to the top of the Torch

A part of the flammable cladding which fell and set fire to lower parts of the building and fell on resident's balconies

 

[computeruser]

Grozny-City complex .

In two hours the fire had completely engulfed three sides of the skyscraper from top to bottom

Grozny city tower builders used cheap facade-facing composite material consisting of aluminium panels and polymer sheets, like Alucobond, or similar decoration systems

 

[computeruser]

Al Tayer Tower

Cigarette butt caused blaze at Al Tayer Tower. The reason for the fire to spread quickly to so many floors was the aluminium cladding panels.

 

[computeruser]

Tamweel Tower, Dubai

Tamweel Tower, Dubai - the civil defense fire team present at the site explicitly blamed the tower's flammable cladding,

Tamweel Tower fire started by cigarette butt, say Dubai Police. Once ignited, the fire quickly spread up the highly-flammable building cladding – which contained aluminium and fibreglass – to the roof. From the roof, blazing chunks of cladding rained down on the balconies and cars below. The fire spread inside the building mainly through the balconies.

 

[computeruser]

Lacrosse Docklands, Melbourne

 

[ThatOneGuy]

It should be banned no doubt. But I think it is the insulation inside the panels that is flammable.

 

[computeruser]

It could be a combination of the insulation. But this cladding panel has deformed from the heat. It also fell onto balconies which in turn caught fire.

 

[computeruser]

Sharjah Al Hafeet Tower

 

[computeruser]

It should be banned no doubt.

According to this BBC article it is partially banned in the US. The sheathing has not been used in the UK since the 1980s and codes in the United States specifically prohibit their use in buildings of more than three or four storeys

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-22346184

 

[CNB30]

Not Surprising considering how poorly designed many of Dubai's skyscrapers appear to be. Seriously the stuff looks like it came out of Disneyland

 

[miumiuwonwon]

China Central Television high-rise (hotel) caught on fire in 2009.

 

[computeruser]

The CCTV of China Tower was coated with SEVEN's Fluorine-carbon solid aluminum panel. The Beijing Municipal Fire Brigade confirmed that the cause of fire was the illegal use of highly explosive fireworks at the construction site.

 

[ThatOneGuy]

Was that just the facade? I think the interior was gutted too.

 

[computeruser]

Dynasty Wanxin Hotel

On February 3, 2011, a large amount of fireworks were placed close to the Wanxin Complex and launched to celebrate the Chinese New Year festival. The complex buildings were ignited by the fireworks. The facade of the towers was cladded with aluminum panels and aluminum composite panels

 

[computeruser]

Residential Building Fire, Shanghai

A preliminary finding by investigators concluded that sparks from welding work being done on the building. The 2010 Shanghai fire was a fire on 15 November 2010 that destroyed a 28-story high-rise apartment building in the city of Shanghai, China, killing at least 58 people and injuring more than 70 others (with at least one source reporting more than 120 others injured).

 

[computeruser]

http://www.stoparsonuk.org/documents/resources/Fire Safety of Exterior Wall Claddings.pdf

 

[Highcliff]

sad

 

[JuanC Rodriguez]

Residential Building Fire, Shanghai

 

[computeruser]

Docklands Melbourne fire cause revealed. Aluminum composite sparked by cigarette butt.

The cause of the blaze in the early hours of November 25 was revealed to be an unextinguished cigarette on a sixth-floor balcony, which spread to a plastic container, a timber table top and a nearby air-conditioning unit.


http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/d...buildings-walls-says-mfb-20150427-1mukhx.html