HSE Safety Alert   
Failure of cold/frozen food store ceilings

HSE has recently completed a fatal accident investigation following the failure of the ceiling of a frozen food store. Two men fell to the floor of the store when insulation panels separated from the steelwork, which supported the ceiling. One of the men died from his injuries. The store was constructed in the 1970s.

The insulation panels consisted of a sandwich of steel sheets bonded to polyurethane foam. These were bolted to a metal support frame, with engineering grade plastic bolts. The manufacturer of the panels and bolts is unknown. The design is believed to have been common and there are likely to be many of these stores still in use.  The mode of failure in this incident gives rise to concern of a future failure.

HSE has set out more details and action required in a HSE Safety Alert