USE OF CASE STUDIES TO DETERMINE TECHNICAL DEFICIENCIES WITH RESPECT TO FIRE SPREAD IN SCHOOL BUILDINGS SUBJECTED TO ARSON FIRES

摘要

Almost every day between one and two school fires occur in Sweden. In most cases arson is the causeof the fire. The losses for these arson fires are considerable. A multidisciplinary research project hasbeen launched in Sweden with the long-term goal to reduce these arson trends. As a part of this projecta smaller project has been conducted where cases studies of arson fires in schools have beenpreformed to identify technical deficiencies and suggest solutions to mitigate the consequences ofarson fires. Some of the deficiencies resulting from the study are lack of detection systems andautomatic alarm systems, bad construction of roof and voids and insufficient fire barriers. Solutionsfor these deficiencies can be automatic alarm systems with efficient location of different type ofdetectors, good illumination, surveillance cameras and sprinklers. The areas which need innovationsare fire protection system for roof eaves nearby the connection between facades and roofs, sprinklersand rescues tactics for voids. Three possible fire scenarios were identified as important. Thesescenarios are important for the further development of technical solutions in the next project.