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Fire Risk Assessment of Residential Buildings Based on Fire Statistics from China

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Abstract

Fire statistics provide valuable information for the assessment of future fire risks. The paper analyses the fire situation in China from 1991 to 2010. The temporal, spatial, and causal fire incident data for the last 6 years have been analyzed to gain an understanding of fire characteristics and the elements affecting fire risks. It is found that the number of fires was observed to be higher during cold winter months, and fires were more frequent during the weekend. The number of fires was lower during nighttime, whereas the number of fire deaths between midnight and 4 a.m. was much higher than at other times of the day. Most fire incidents occurred in residential buildings. In economically developed East China, the fire situation is much more serious. Electrical failures and improperly fire use in daily life were major causes of fire incidents. Based on the statistical data from China’s fire services and the China Statistical Yearbook, the risk of occupant deaths and the risk of direct property loss are calculated to express the risk level in residential buildings. It is found that the risk of occupant deaths had a declining trend over the years. Statistics is considered a useful tool for learning from the actual events, and it helps decision makers develop proactive fire protection measures to reduce fatalities and financial losses caused by fires.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Academy of Disaster Reduction and Emergency Management, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, People’s Republic of China

    Jing Xin & Chong Fu Huang

  2. Department of Fire Command, Chinese People’s Armed Police Force Academy, Langfang, 065000, People’s Republic of China

    Jing Xin

Authors
  1. Jing Xin
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  2. Chong Fu Huang
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Correspondence to Jing Xin.

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Xin, J., Huang, C.F. Fire Risk Assessment of Residential Buildings Based on Fire Statistics from China. Fire Technol 50, 1147–1161 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10694-013-0327-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10694-013-0327-8

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