Fires in timber framed dwellings tend to suffer relatively greater fire and heat damage spreading over larger areas in comparison with other types of building, according to new government statistics.

In its annual Fire Statistics Monitor for 2009-2010, the Communities and Local Government department has for the first time produced a section on timber frame construction.

The report, published last week, suggests fires in timber framed dwellings have a relatively greater degree of fire and heat damage spreading over larger areas compared to other types of building. It says: "The appropriate statistical test...indicates that fires in timber-framed dwellings do tend to have a greater area of fire and heat damage than fires in dwellings of no special construction."

The report is accompanied by statistics that show that out of the fires reported in completed timber framed buildings, the 49 that were in residential blocks had damage that covered an area 20m² or greater. While the number was relatively small – compared to the 1,121 fires in traditionally built residential blocks – statisticians concluded that the differences in proportions observed were “unlikely to be the result of chance variation.”

According to an article this week in The Guardian, timber frame construction now accounts for around 60% of all new social housing. Jim Glockling, technical director at the Fire Protection Association, said: "Often these blocks are put up four at a time. When we investigate a fire and find a construction fault in one, can we assume the other three buildings are perfect? Possibly not. They might need a close look too."

The report, which looked at incidents between April 2009 and March 2010, also said that it was possible that some fires in timber frame constructions might not have been reported because unless they spread over a greater area it would not be obvious how the building was constructed.

The UK Timber Frame Association's chairman, Geoff Arnold, disputes the reliability of the statistics. "Overall it’s a really positive move that CLG has incorporated specific research into fires in all building forms, because any learning we can gain from the report is a good thing. Unfortunately, the report lacks any real substance when it comes to understanding the issue of fire in timber frame and may have unintentionally damaged the perception among owners and specifiers for the most environmentally-friendly, high-performance and mainstream build method on the market."

The publication of the data follows an investigation by the BBC earlier this year which found that out of the 32 boroughs in London, only three said they knew where their timber frame buildings were located.

In July, architect Sam Webb contributed to the debate in the architects’ magazine, RIBA Journal, saying that controlled tests carried out on the safety of timber frame constructions prior to occupation might not always be reliable.

To download Fire Statistics Monitor click here.

Read The Guardian article