A Note From the Guest Editor

Abstract

The Action COST TU0904 enables researchers in different specialisms and countries to understand better the recent advances in research in parallel fields, as well as their limitations, so that they see their own research in context and identify opportunities. Practitioners, including fire engineers and building/fire control authorities, benefit from exposure to research findings, discussion with the research community and the sharing of best practice. Their input makes researchers aware of real-world constraints, and requirements for new research. The Action divides its membership loosely into three themed Working Groups, although clearly its overall mission of promoting integration means that these groups must interact on many of the key activities. The Working Groups are: WG1 Fire Behaviour and Life Safety focuses on the behaviour and effects of fire in buildings, combining this research-based knowledge with the most effective means of protecting human life against the occurrence of fire in the built environment. This includes active measures in fire-fighting with the effects of building form on the inherent risk to inhabitants. WG2 Structural safety covers the response of different building types to fires and the rapidly developing research field of structural fire engineering, including new materials and technologies and passive protection measures.Crucial problems of structural fire engineering concern change of use of buildings and the current imperatives of sustainability, energy saving and protection of the environment after fire. WG3 Integrated Design brings together design, practice and research across the disciplines of fire in the built environment. In structural design this includes integration of fire resistance with all the other functional requirements of a building, from concept onwards, rather than simply adding fire protection after all other processes are complete. Active input from practitioners, regulators and fire-fighters through this group is vital to the success of the Action. The Action started in March 2010, and now has 22 nations of the EU and New Zealand participants. Its first deliverable, State of the Art Report attempts to bring together the current state of research, mainly in the participating countries but set into the context of knowledge world-wide. The deliverable, Case Studies presents current practice and accumulated knowledge in fire engineering.The authors, experts of the Action, are trying to include on the selected fire engineering applications clear explanations of the decision processes, the scientific assumptions and the practical constraints, as well as how different aspects of fire engineering are integrated. The deliverable, Fire Brigade Reports and Investigations consists of contribution to organisation of national fire and rescue arrangements in different EU, of contribution to comparability of national statistics and recommendations for questions to be included in standardised national fire fighters reports, and of lessons learned from the particular disasters. The current activity of Actionis focussed to Benchmark studies, contribution to Eurocodes backgrounds and Educational dimension in area of structural fire design. The papers in this issue allowed experts in Action to inform about its research findings in Proceedings of Action Conference 29 April 2011 outside the Action as well.