Multi-Phase Residential Fire Vulnerability Assessment

Abstract

Identifying fire vulnerability levels and indicators in residential structures is crucial. Residential fire could cause burn injuries, deaths, and property damage. Studies have found a lack of adherence to fire safety standards in construction practices and inadequate perception of household risks as the prime factors contributing to residential fire risk. This study proposes a comprehensive multi-phase residential vulnerability assessment, namely socioeconomic, fire ignition, fire combat, fire development, and fire escape stages vulnerability. A comprehensive household survey was conducted across three residential areas in Faisalabad, Pakistan, with distinct structural designs and urban configurations. The multi-phase residential fire vulnerability was carried out by employing internally formulated indices. Results revealed that the fire constitutes a significant peril, with over 50% of households in the designated study area manifesting vulnerabilities. The proposed methodology was found robust enough to identify factors and stages where attention is needed. The implications of this study extend to policymaking bodies, development practitioners, architects, and urban planners, offering them valuable insights to concentrate their endeavors on diminishing fire hazards and associated susceptibilities.