By James Whitaker · Published 4 November 2026 · 3 min read
C Watkins Plumbing Limited has been fined £20,000 after four subcontractors narrowly escaped a rapidly spreading fire on the roof of a 14-storey apartment block in Surrey. The blaze, sparked by welding work, highlights severe failings in hot works management. ## Background On 26 July 2024, workers were installing an air source heat pump at the Old Telephone Exchange development in Staines-upon-Thames. According to the Health and Safety Executive, sparks ignited uncovered rigid foam insulation. The fire spread across the entire roof space. The four men had to escape through a single floor opening and down a ladder to Level 14. There were no fire extinguishers and no means of raising the alarm. ## Industry implications The incident underscores the catastrophic financial and operational risks of ignoring basic fire safety protocols. C Watkins Plumbing Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 15(2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. At Staines Magistrates' Court on 29 October 2026, the firm was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay £8,270 in costs. ## What contractors should do now Site managers must ensure strict adherence to hot works procedures. This includes issuing specific permits to work for any welding or cutting. Combustible materials like rigid foam insulation must be covered or removed from the immediate area. Adequate escape routes and fire extinguishers must be present before any hot works commence. ## Expert view HSE inspector Stephanie Hickford-Smith confirmed the company had policies in place but failed to implement them. She stated: "Watkins failed to follow its own procedures for hot works. It did not assess the risks and so had no control measures in place." The presence of an HSE inspector nearby, who photographed the blaze, provided immediate regulatory oversight of the failure. ## What happens next The Health and Safety Executive continues to target fire safety and hot works compliance during site inspections. Contractors can expect increased scrutiny of method statements and risk assessments for high-rise roof works.
Sources
- Construction Enquirer — Construction Enquirer
- Construction News — Construction News
