Commercial buildings

Supermarket chains and commercial property developers have started to look into using timber frame construction although few schemes have materialised. Large-scale projects of this kind carry inherently higher risks, of which many clients will not be aware. Typically such schemes are located in densely built-up areas where the dangers of fire spreading to surrounding properties are heightened. The seriousness of the problem was graphically illustrated by the big Peckham fire in south London, which broke out at a large housing site under construction and burned so fiercely it spread to nearby council housing leading to a mass evacuation.