05-21-2008, 06:30 PM
It brings to light two basic issues. No fire sprinkler protection where needed and improper supervision of hot work (welding, brazing, torch use, etc). Hot work is one of the three leading causes of fires in commercial properties, the others are electrical and smoking (which is dropping rapidly due to smoking restrictions).
As a risk management consultant, I run into the mindset that a building can't be sprinklered as it is historic or it would ruin the aesthetics. I often get a blank look when I ask, what happens to the historic structure if there is a fire. A historic building that is rebuilt is no longer historic, but a replica. Not to mention that the contents are often irreplaceable.
It's a shame that this has happened, but hopefully they will learn from it.
As a risk management consultant, I run into the mindset that a building can't be sprinklered as it is historic or it would ruin the aesthetics. I often get a blank look when I ask, what happens to the historic structure if there is a fire. A historic building that is rebuilt is no longer historic, but a replica. Not to mention that the contents are often irreplaceable.
It's a shame that this has happened, but hopefully they will learn from it.