The UK Timber Frame Association (UKTFA) has demanded that RISCAuthority’s new report on fire in timber frame buildings be withdrawn.
The UKTFA described the report, which draws parallels between timber frame fire statistics in the US and UK, as “highly misleading and technically inaccurate”.
“This report smacks of starting with a very definite end-game and working backwards in a poor attempt to justify its conclusion,” said Geoff Arnold, past chairman of the UKTFA.
“The content is misleading and it’s the most biased piece of material I have ever seen on the issue of timber frame buildings.”
The report, drafted by the Fire Protection Association for insurers’ group RISK, claims that fires in lightweight timber frame buildings are twice as common as fires in a building of more traditional construction.
It also says the continued expansion of timber frame was likely to have “significant implications” for the insured environment which may extend to the safety of firefighting personnel and building occupants.
Mr Arnold said the report ignored the fundamental law of analysis that correlation does not mean causation.
He also suggests the report’s conclusion that “the findings may be equally relevant to all forms of MMC construction deploying combustible materials” is irresponsible.
“We welcome constructive dialogue on how the performance of timber frame can be further improved but inaccurate and sensationalistic reports such as this by an organisation that purports to represent the insurance industry are at best unhelpful and at worst misleading,” said Mr Arnold.
