Fires, statistics, ignition sources, and passive fire protection measures

Abstract

Although the number of fires continuously decreases, there are still too many fatalities. A comprehensive review of fire statistics shows upholstered furniture to cause most fire deaths, followed by electrical distribution fires. In transportation, car and bus fires are a major problem. European and US fire regulations provide a reasonable level of fire safety, but too low for cars and buses. The elimination of the open-flame upholstered furniture test in California is problematic. The fire safety performance levels that flame-retarded products achieve in mandatory fire tests and full-scale studies show the efficacy of flame retardants and of barriers. Flame retardants are not generally unsafe for humans and the environment. European Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals, US Environmental Protection Agency studies, and GreenScreen show ways to identify safer flame retardant systems. A balanced approach involving facts from fire statistics, adapting fire regulations, and improving products fire safety will help to reduce fire losses.