John Joseph Jennings · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 21st October 2019 I commenced an investigation into the death of John Joseph Jennings. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest held on the 24th November 2020.
The conclusion of the inquest was a short narrative conclusion;

Consequences of a fire at home.

On the Eighteenth of October 2019 at 01.04 hrs a line was opened to Mr Jennings from an alarm monitoring company to his home following the activation of a smoke alarm.

This call did not result in the London Fire Brigade being called until 01.21 hrs . The Code of Practice for Remote Centres Receiving Signals from Alarm Signals British Standard Code of Practice, if followed, would have resulted in a call to the London Fire Brigade being made after 90 seconds from the line being opened which would, in this case, have resulted in the Fire Brigade arriving whilst Mr Jennings was still connected. Had the installation complied with British Standard 5839 at LD1 Maximum Protection level there would have been more measures taken to protect Mr Jennings who had only a single fire detector in the hall at his home. Mr Jennings died at his home from smoke inhalation before the Fire Brigade arrived.

1. Evidence was heard expressing concern that the above Code of Practice and British Standard 5839 LD1 Maximum Protection level were not currently statutory requirements.