Roadmap for Reducing Façade Fire Risks in Buildings

İngilizce (OpenAlex)

This study aims to develop a holistic approach to reducing façade fire risks in buildings. Despite the existence of various regulations and standards governing fire safety in buildings, the fact that fires still occur and result in significant loss of life and property highlights that the problem lies not so much in legislative shortcomings as in issues of implementation and cultural awareness. Therefore, reassessing fire risks and consulting expert opinions to seek rapid and effective solutions are essential. In developing countries, determining the relative importance of these factors is the most critical step in the search for rapid and effective solutions. This is because resources are limited, whilst risks are multidimensional and interlinked. Decisions made without prioritisation remain ineffective and prove costly. For this reason, within the scope of this study, a systematic literature review was first conducted to identify the parameters influencing fire risks; subsequently, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method was employed to determine the importance levels of these parameters. In accordance with the resulting priority ranking, a roadmap protocol was developed for each parameter, thereby identifying feasible strategies and presenting solution proposals. The findings demonstrate that the accurate identification and prioritisation of fire parameters is a critical step for building safety, particularly in developing countries. Measures to be taken within the architectural context to reduce fire risks have been addressed holistically and prioritised. The study comprehensively addresses structural conditions, façade designs, ignition sources and environmental factors; the importance of applications such as the use of fire-resistant materials, façade modulation, compartmentalisation, mechanical pressurisation and sprinkler systems has been detailed. Consequently, whilst it has been established that the fundamental requirement for reducing fire risks is the use of fire-resistant and certified materials, it has also been demonstrated that decisions made during the design and operational phases directly impact fire safety. In this context, a holistic approach to material selection, architectural design, and operational processes enhances the fire resistance of buildings and promotes a sustainable safety approach.