Crown Trade Timonox flame retardant paint systems helped to prevent flames spreading through a block of tenanted flats, when a fire broke out on the fifth floor of a high rise tower in Birmingham.

The fire started in one of the flats in Kentmere Tower, a 12-storey high-rise block, owned by Birmingham City Council. Crown Trade Timonox flame retardant systems had been applied to all of the communal areas in the tower, as part of the City Council’s Decent Homes planned maintenance programme.

The fire started inside one of the flats but the flames were unable to spread across any communal surfaces due to the application of Crown Trade Timonox. The finishes were applied to the walls and ceiling surfaces of the communal landings, in the stairwell, corridor and lobby areas by service contractors, Morrison Facility Services as part of their ongoing repairs and maintenance contract.

The fire caused extensive damage to the flat and the heat was such that it melted light fittings in the corridor areas immediately outside, but the Crown Trade Timonox painted areas showed little sign of damage after successfully limiting the spread of flame.

Tom Taplin, contract team manager at Birmingham City Council, confirmed: “We chose the Timonox systems to achieve the required level of fire safety for our residents living in high-rise flats. This followed extensive investigation, by the MorrisonFS contract management team, of suitable products that complied with current legislation and achieved our requirement for a Class 0 fire rating. The fire did not spread through any communal areas, and although the lighting showed heat damage, there was no paint breakdown or evidence of flame spread.”

Timonox systems were tailored to the particular needs of the tower and were chosen to deliver a Class 0 rating to wall and ceiling areas as well as additional anti-graffiti protection for the walls. Class 0 (as defined in Section B2 of Approved Document B of the UK Building Regulations) is generally specified for high-risk locations such as circulation areas and escape routes.

The Timonox range is one of the few to meet new European fire test standards, in addition to the current UK Building Regulations requirements. Fully tested and accredited by Bodycote Warringtonfire, the systems have a 30-year history of protecting surfaces and arresting the spread of flame.

Email: katie.utting@trianglepr.co.uk