About Olympus
About Olympus
Olympus Fire Safety is a consultancy specialising in fire safety, fire engineering and fire dynamics which was established at the end of 2020. It is primarily a research organisation and does not trade with the general public, although its principal engineer will contract to companies on an individual basis.
What does Olympus do?
- Fire-safe building design and construction for architectural projects
- Fire safety advice and risk mitigation strategies
- Fire safety assessments (based on its research)
- Technical research and reports
- Fire investigation
Associations
Olympus Fire Safety is an associate of Intelliclad (part of Metalline Services Ltd), based at Cannock in Staffordshire, for which Olympus produced a report on a fire alarm and detection system, designed to be installed directly into the facade of a building. Please visit www.intelliclad.co.uk for details. Olympus is also an associate of Ashev Fire, based in East London, which specialises in smoke control and cavity protection. Please visit www.ashfire.co.uk
Valencia Fire
On 22 February 2024, a serious fire occurred in a 14-storey building in the Spanish city of Valencia. Dubbed "Spain's Grenfell" due to remarkably similar behaviour of the fire which rapidly consumed the facade of the building, whilst breaching the compartmentation of the flats from the outside as windows failed, it claimed the lives of ten people. A stay-put policy was in place and people were told to remain in their flats. Those who fled survived, whereas those who remained died. A young family of four, including a two week old baby girl, was turned back on the stairs by firefighters. All were later found dead in the bathroom of their flat where they had become trapped. Olympus produced an initial draft of a report shortly after the fire which was publicly released, but now no longer available. Since the release, further information has emerged, and a second (and final) version of the report is being prepared. It examines the causes and development of the fire, how it spread, and how the design and geometry of the building influenced its behaviour. The report forms part of the formal investigation, and its aim is not only to provide answers, but also to contribute to a better understanding of facade fire so that lessons learned and similar incidents prevented in the future. The cause was initially attributed to a faulty electric awning on the exterior of the building, but is now being blamed on a faulty fridge/freezer. At this stage, it is still worth keeping an open mind, especially as the evidence is not convincing or conclusive.
The image above is widely available on the internet and in the media
The Author is to give a presentation about this incident in London in March 2025, on behalf of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) UK Chapter. Details will be announced nearer the time on the SFPE UK website and on LinkedIn (SFPE UK)