We are aware of the consequences of vehicles catching fire on roads and in single level and multi-storey car parks. Here is a new problem making an appearance – the collapse of the ground level car park.
Plastics stored or used in the open air, within or on buildings can be a recognised fire risk and actions are taken to reduce that risk, but what about plastics used underground?
It seems to me that there is a new fire risk associated with the use of plastic storm water attenuation crates underground that has not yet been recognised or considered.
In America these plastic crates have been used to create a large underground storm water storage facility. The containment was then covered and used as a car park. Recently (2024) those crates caught fire, the fire could not be extinguished and the car park deck collapsed. There is a short YouTube video here with more videos being added.
As for the cause of the fire – I have some ideas but cannot tell you what the precise cause of the fire was. In my opinion the cause of the fire is irrelevant. What I can say is that the authorities failed to recognise the risk of the installed crates burning under the ground. This sounds like a Grenfell Tower chapter to me. Today we are using increasing quantities of crates for residential and civil engineering projects. I think there is a need to have a close look at the current legislation on where, when and how these crates (and other plastics) are used. We should have alarm bells ringing urgently here!
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