The sustainability challenge of product information quality in the design and construction of facades: lessons from the Grenfell Tower fire

Soheila Bahrami,Davood Zeinali

doi:10.1108/sasbe-06-2021-0100

Soheila Bahrami, Davood Zeinali

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1108/sasbe-06-2021-0100

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Abstract

PurposeThis paper explores the quality and flow of facade product information and the capabilities for avoiding the risk of facade fires early in the design process.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative case study using the process tracing method is conducted in two stages. First, a thematic analysis of reports and literature identified two categories for the problems that caused fast fire spread across the Grenfell Tower facade. This enabled classifying the identified problems into four stages of a facade life cycle: product design and manufacturing, procurement, facade design and construction. Second, the capabilities for avoiding the problems were explored by conducting in-depth interviews with 18 experts in nine countries, analyzing design processes and designers' expertise and examining the usability of three digital interfaces in providing required information for designing fire-safe facades.FindingsThe results show fundamental flaws in the quality of facade product information and usability of digital interfaces concerning fire safety. These flaws, fragmented design processes and overreliance on other specialists increase the risk of design defects that cause fast fire spread across facades.Practical implicationsThe findings have implications for standardization of building product information, digitalization in industrialized construction and facade design management.Originality/valueThis research adds to the body of knowledge on sustainability in the built environment. It is the first study to highlight the fundamental problem of facade product information, which requires urgent attention in the rapid transition toward digital and industrialized construction.

Highlights

The built environment encounters sustainability problems, evident in an increasing number of facade fires worldwide (Bonner and Rein, 2020; Spearpoint et al, 2019a; White and Delichatsios, 2015)
To design the case study, a comprehensive review and thematic analysis of the documents and literature on the facade fires have been conducted to understand the most common factors involved in those incidents
Findings and discussion The analysis of the reported facade fires shows that the facade type and the combustibility of the materials were the most common factors involved in those incidents

Summary

Introduction

The built environment encounters sustainability problems, evident in an increasing number of facade fires worldwide (Bonner and Rein, 2020; Spearpoint et al, 2019a; White and Delichatsios, 2015). The fire claimed the lives of 72 residents and caused severe environmental contamination (Stec et al, 2019) and psychological effects on survivors, bereaved and witnesses (Cooper and Whyte, 2018). The building facade, including combustible materials, has been identified as the primary cause of the fast fire spread, heavy toxic smoke and falling debris (Lane, 2018a; McKenna et al, 2019). The full terms of this licence may be seen at http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode

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