Risk Management and Fire Prevention for Thatched Properties

Thatched properties are valued for their character, architectural appeal and connection with the natural environment. They are particularly common in lodges, guest houses, safari properties, restaurants heritage buildings, rural homes and now with outside gazebos in city houses.

However, the very construction features that make a thatched property distinctive can also create a significant fire exposure. A thatched roof should therefore not be treated simply as an architectural feature. It should be regarded as a specific risk-management consideration requiring deliberate prevention, early detection, regular maintenance and appropriate insurance protection. This is even more important now due to climate change which makes our summer temperatures higher than usual.

Understand the Risk

A thatched building presents a different fire exposure to conventional tiled or chromadek roofing.

Potential ignition sources include:

• Chimneys and fireplaces
• Electrical faults and deteriorated wiring
• Lightning strikes
• Cooking equipment
• Welding, grinding and other hot work during maintenance
• Bonfires, fireworks and uncontrolled outdoor fires

Where the property is a lodge, hotel, restaurant, wedding venue or holiday accommodation, the potential consequences extend beyond property damage to include injury, evacuation, business interruption and liability to guests.

Electrical Risk Management

Electrical installations deserve particular attention because wiring may pass through roof spaces containing highly combustible material.

A comprehensive electrical inspection should identify:

• Age and condition of wiring
• Overloaded circuits
• Damaged cables, Poor connections
• Inappropriate lighting installations
• Temporary electrical extensions
• Equipment installed within roof spaces
• Unsafe alterations carried out over time

Fire-service guidance recommends regular electrical checks and appropriate protection of wiring in roof spaces. Bulkhead-type fittings are recommended in some guidance instead of exposed bulbs. An important principle is that electrical alterations should never be treated as minor DIY work in a thatched property.

Early Detection Is Essential

A conventional building may provide occupants with more time to identify and control a developing fire. Thatched properties can be considerably less forgiving.

An effective detection strategy should include:

• Smoke alarms throughout the property
• An appropriately positioned detector in the roof or loft space
• Interlinked alarms where appropriate
• Regular testing and battery replacement
• Appropriate commercial fire detection for larger premises
• Clearly audible alarms in bedrooms and occupied areas
• Consideration of remote monitoring for properties that are unoccupied for periods

Some of the more modern detection systems include:

• Ionization Smoke Detectors : These trigger an alarm when smoke disrupts an electrical current between charged plates.
• Photoelectric Smoke Alarms: These use a light beam that reflects onto a sensor when smoke is present, ideal for smouldering fires.
• Very Early Smoke Detection Apparatus: They periodically sample air for smoke particles.
• Heat Detectors: They trigger when a temperature threshold is reached.

Create a Defensible Fire-Prevention Zone

Risk management should extend beyond the roof itself. The area immediately surrounding a thatched property should be managed to reduce the possibility of external ignition.

Property owners should:

• Prohibit bonfires close to the building
• Keep combustible materials away from the property
• Control outdoor cooking and braai areas
• Establish strict rules for smoking
• Prohibit fireworks near the property
• Carefully control generators and fuel storage
• Manage vegetation around buildings
• Keep access routes clear for emergency vehicles
• Ensure neighbouring properties understand the fire risk
• Have the requisite fire protection equipment in working condition and the family or employees should know how to use them.

A formal Hot Work Permit system should be considered for commercial and high-value properties.

Lastly, insure the property. Insurance should be the final layer of a broader risk-management programme not the first line of defence. The best time to review the fire risk is before the fire and our team is available to assist you with a free risk management assessment of your thatched property. Call us today and we will assist you.