Glasgow fire and historic building risk
A CROSS UK feature article reflects on the Glasgow Union Street fire on 8 March 2026 and sets out the fire safety issues that can affect older and listed buildings.
The article says the cause of the fire at the B-listed building on Union Street has not yet been determined and that investigations are ongoing.
Emergency services responded quickly and no injuries were reported. The fire destroyed the businesses within the building.
Damage to the structure also disrupted nearby businesses and transport infrastructure.
CROSS UK says incidents of this kind show how fires in historic buildings can affect city centres and local economies even when there are no casualties.
Glasgow lessons from older construction and change of use
Older and larger historic buildings often contain timber floor structures, lath and plaster walls and ceilings, cast iron frames and columns, along with hidden voids and complex roof spaces.
These features can affect how fire starts and spreads.
Timber floors, concealed cavities and linked roof spaces can allow fire and smoke to move through a building without being seen.
The article says many historic buildings also lack a clear documented fire strategy.
Original drawings may be incomplete or unavailable.
A building may also have changed use several times across its life, altering layouts, occupancy patterns and fire loading.
Service penetrations for ductwork, cables and pipework can also create routes for fire spread where openings are not properly fire stopped.
Managing fire safety in heritage buildings
CROSS UK says effective management in heritage buildings starts with a competent fire risk assessment that reflects the building’s construction, layout and current use.
The article says this work may require a fire risk assessor with experience of heritage buildings, especially where concealed spaces or older construction systems are involved.
It also calls for a formal fire strategy that addresses life safety and property protection.
That strategy should cover detection, compartmentation, suppression and management.
In leased buildings, leaseholders and landlords may each hold responsibilities for fire safety measures in different parts of the premises.
The article says coordination between responsible persons is needed so that fire risk assessments and fire strategies align across the whole building.
It also points to early detection, maintenance, housekeeping, control of contractors and hot work, protection of compartmentation and control of fire loads and ignition sources as parts of fire safety management in older buildings.
The article ends by stating that fires in historic buildings can leave lasting economic and cultural damage, and that protecting them depends on a proactive and coordinated fire safety approach.