Frances Maria Peacock FCIAT, CBuildE FCABE, IHBC, MIFireE, M

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I am a nationally and internationally recognised expert on façade fires, having carried out extensive research following the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, from which I have developed Architectural Fire Dynamics, a new specialised branch of fire science.  This has led me to become involved in fire investigations in order to explain the spread and behaviour of fire on the exterior of buildings which have combustible cladding (or other such materials) on the façade, or in the external wall structure.  As a subject, Architectural Fire Dynamics is a science, as well as both an engineering and architectural discipline as well.  It also has a forensic element.

I am an independent fire investigator and take on individual cases in order to establish what really happened and why.  In many cases, I have found that the formal investigations are insufficient and even biased.  Many of those involved do not understand façade fires properly, nor even the forensic aspects of fire investigation and are overly concerned with avoiding liability.  The prevents the lessons being learned and the right courses of action being taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.

My work has been used to explain several serious fires, including Grenfell.  It has also been used in remediation and mitigation work in order to identify which parts of a building present the greatest risk.  I give presentations on my work, both in the UK and abroad, to architects, engineers, firefighters, building control, and those involved in other professions within the fire and built environment sectors.  The reports I have written have been widely distributed and read all over the world.  The objective of my reports and presentations is to improve our understanding of façade fires so that the risks can be appreciated and appropriate measures taken.

I also work for company which is involved with the remediation of unsafe buildings – FR Consultants based at Romsey in Hampshire.  I review proposed schemes, fire protection measures, fire risk assessments (FRA) and fire risk assessments of the external wall (FRAEW), as well as other fire engineers’ reports.  I produce fire statements, fire strategies, peer reviews and fire risk assessments.

I have a BSc in Architectural Technology and previously worked in architectural practise on a self-employed basis and for a small local practice, Lifestyle Design Architects Limited, for which I specialised in heritage and conservation.  I believe that my background in architecture makes me a better fire engineer because my knowledge of design and construction can  be applied to my work.

I maintain a small amount of work in this field as a sideline, in order to maintain my skills and retain my accreditation, although I still have a keen interest in historic buildings.  My practice - FMP Architecture & Conservation - is a CIAT-registered Chartered Practice and a member of HESPR, the IHBC's business service.

In August 2017, I published a book entitled, "A Building History of Delapre Abbey, Northampton."  It analyses the building and describes the architectural history of this country house, which dates back to 1145 when it began its life as a Cluniac Nunnery.  The book can be purchased for £16.00 from the gift shop at the house or by contacting me directly.  I am now working on a second book about local history.  This one is about the history of the Northampton Gas Light Company and its Gasworks.  It looks at the development of the gas industry in the town, the work of its engineers, and the history of the company's buildings and structures.  Northampton attracted some of the leading engineers in the industry and played a key role in its growth, both nationally and internationally.  One of its Assistant Managers, James Sharp, even invented the gas cooker!

In December 2018, I was one of 24 experts selected from around the world to participate in the UN-sponsored  International Fire Safety Standards - Standards Setting Committee (IFSS-SSE), which was set up following Grenfell to produce a universal framework of common fire safety principles which could be applied in any country, irrespective of their individual fire regulations.  The objective was to create global harmonisation so that all jurisdictions would conform to the same high level standards.  The Common Principles document was published in January 2020.

In 2024, I worked with a group of fire engineers tasked with producing fire safety guidance on the risks from lithium-ion battery fires in office blocks and other places of work.

Most recently, I have been invited to participate in a group which is working with the Home Office and the IHBC to create fire safety guidance for historic buildings.  This centres around a debate as to whether the relevant appendix of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 should be abolished, or whether it would be better to produce a new, and perhaps more detailed, separate guidance.

In association with the above, I am:

1.  A Fellow and Chartered Building Engineer and have membership of the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE) and the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE),

2.  An accredited historic building conservationist and have Full Membership of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC).  I also have a Post Graduate Certificate in Historic Conservation from Oxford Brookes University,

3.  A Fellow and Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT),

4.  A Member of the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE),

5.  I am currently President of the UK Chapter of the Society Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) of which I am also a member.

6.  I also hold a Diploma of Higher Education in Law and I am a member of Lincoln’s Inn.  The knowledge gained from this course has been useful in several aspects of my work, where contracts and other legal matters have to be considered on a frequent basis.

7.  I have membership of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Institution of Railway Signal Engineers (IRSE).