In article ,
Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 15:58:53 on Tue, 20 Jun
2017, "Dave Plowman (News)" remarked:
Apparently there's a shortage of 1-bed property as an unforeseen
consequence of this benefit cap. So there are people suffering by living
in a surplus of 2-bed accommodation they can't afford to pay for.

Turning 20 of the 2-bed flats into a 1-bed plus stairwell will mean
everyone still has the bed they need, they will be better off, and the
building is safer. Win, win.

The purpose of a high rise is to

safely

accommated the largest number of people on the smallest land area. If
you're going to mess with that ratio by removing rooms and adding
stairwells, a re-think of the whole thing might be better.

better than condemning the whole block

Not so sure about that. The original block was built in a particular way
to contain any fire to a small area. It seems to have been updating work
which was the cause of this disaster. Even more major updating to include
a second internal staircase might well create as many problems as it is
meant to solve.
Better to demolish and start again.

But two stairwells filled with killer smoke ain't going to help much
either.

Which is why they should be vented. And perhaps stiffer firedoors.

One properly protected stairwell and we'd not have had this appalling
outcome. That, to me, is the important part any investigation has to
explain. An escape route is the last resort which is by far more important
than any other.

Adding a second staircase with the same woeful disregard for making it
conform to what is already common knowledge is simply throwing good money
after bad.

--
*Corduroy pillows are making headlines.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.