New project will reduce fatal fires – Aftonbladet

Fires. Despite extensive prevention efforts and more and more smoke alarms in the homes does not reduce the number of deaths in house fires.

Now, scientists will find out why and what action is required to bring down the number of casualties.

Every year, killing around 90 people in fires in Sweden. The number has been fairly constant the last 20 years and there is still a long way to the national vision of zero deaths. During the julmånaden causing the candles around 10 per cent of the deaths.

The new research project initiated by the Swedish civil contingencies Agency shall, inter alia, to analyse why they have already made the stakes had no effect, but also give suggestions on effective and efficient measures.

Flammable furniture

we have already seen is that the trend in upholstered furniture is a major contributing factor then the fire can grow rapidly in such materials, ” says Petra Andersson at the Swedish technical research institute and who is leading the project.

Comparisons between a 50-talsmöblemang and a more modern interior design show, according to Petra Andersson, a marked difference in how quickly the fire grows with more modern furnishings.

– A recommendation could be to have stricter fire safety requirements for furniture for homes. In the united states and England are such requirements, and which also reduces the number of fatalities in house fires. It is a possible path but it is up to the authorities to decide. You also need to make a trade-off to not increase the amount of chemicals in the environment, ” says Petra Andersson.

interior decoration trends are taken into account

floor plans, building structures, changing lifestyles and interior decoration trends are other factors that the scientists should weigh in. More pillows, many lamps and candles in many places in the home, are examples which can have an effect on the number of fires.

– It is more comfortable now than 30 years ago. In addition, we are home more now than in the past, and in several cases also more overcrowded, ” says Petra Andersson.

Technical measures will also be reviewed. So-called spisvakter that turns off the power being built now in the Norwegian housing and may be recommended even here.

– It is also very important that smoke alarms be placed in the right place so that you certainly hear them at night, ” says Petra Andersson.

the Inquiry is expected to be completed about one year.

the FACTS

Fires in the home

the Number of fatalities in the fire in the dwelling 1999-2014: 1 358 (1 243 fires)

Number of caused by candlelight: 59 (55 fires)

Number of persons in december of the same period: 199 (183 fires)

Number of caused by candles: 19 (16 fires)

Source: The authority for civil contingencies

TT