Fire in heritage and historic buildings, a major challenge for the 21st century

Abstract

Heritage and historic buildings possess an important architectural and cultural value which fire significantly threatens. However, current codes very rarely address the peculiarities of such buildings vis-à-vis fire hazards. Therefore, bringing these buildings into compliance with fire safety regulations while avoiding heritage loss is a great challenge. Within this context, this study provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of the art of research on fire in heritage and historic buildings. The analysis of the literature shows that, despite significant advances in research, the fire safety of historic buildings remains alarming, with important research gaps to be addressed. This study identifies these gaps, proposes future research areas, and provides a baseline for the search for solutions to achieve fire safety in heritage and historic buildings. Thus, this work promotes the conservation of these buildings, as well as rehabilitation over demolition and new construction, leading to a more sustainable construction.