14.30-15.30 Edinburgh local time – Zoom Webinar (Register via Eventbrite here)
A Potentially Fatal Combination
The Special Risks posed by Fire in Historic Buildings
Peter Drummond
Director, Peter Drummond Architects
Recent tragic events in Glasgow have served as a stark reminder of the threat posed by fire to our built heritage. Cases such as Cameron House, however, show that there is also a risk to life.
These risks vary in subtle yet important ways from modern buildings. Traditional forms of construction are, by their nature, much more susceptible than contemporary materials. Complex multi-phase structures can be particularly inscrutable, with hidden dangers not immediately obvious to those from outwith the conservation sector. Standards for alterations undertaken in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s are no longer considered adequate today.
Over the course of his 45 minute lecture Peter will provide an overview of these issues, setting out how a fire spreads within traditional buildings and what this means for the occupants seeking to escape. He will highlight the issues which all practitioners need to consider and summarise how these have been addressed in the most recent revisions to the Scottish building regulatory system, coming into force in April.
Peter Drummond
Peter has over 30 years’ experience of working in a wide range of roles in the built heritage and environment sector. He is a Trustee of the National Trust for Scotland, sits on the Board of the Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS), and is is a Fellow of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland. Peter is past chair of the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland and continues to be active across a range of amenity bodies at local and national level.
Peter’s work on heritage-led regeneration projects includes the Kilmarnock Townscape Heritage Initiative, St Francis Monastery, the People’s History Museum in Manchester, Shrewsbury Music Hall, Lews Castle and Portencross Castle.. He works extensively in fire safety, chairing the Scottish Government’s Building Standards Fire Safety Review Panel 2020-22 and more recently as a member for the Scottish Ministerial Working Group for Phase 2 of the Grenfell Inquiry.
