Abstract
Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) fires, a worldwide problem, are gaining more importance over time due to climate change and increased urbanization in WUI areas. Some jurisdictions have provided standards, codes and guidelines, which may greatly help planning, prevention and protection against wildfires. This work presents a wide systematic review of standards, codes and guidelines for the design and construction of the built environment against WUI fire hazard from North American, European, Oceanic countries, alongside with trans-national codes. The main information reviewed includes: the definition of WUI hazards, risk areas and related severity classes, the influence of land and environmental factors, the requirements for building materials, constructions, utilities, fire protection measures and road access. Some common threads among the documents reviewed have been highlighted. They include similar attempts at: (a) defining WUI risk areas and severity classes, (b) considering land factors including the defensible space (also known as ignition zones), (c) prescribing requirements for buildings and access. The main gaps highlighted in the existing standards/guidelines include lacks of detailed and widespread requirements for resources, fire protection measures, and lacks of taking into account environmental factors in detail. The main design and construction principles contained in the reviewed documents are largely based on previous research and/or good practices. Hence, the main contributions of this paper consist in: (a) systematically disseminate these guidance concepts, (b) setting a potential basis for the development of standards/guidelines in other jurisdictions lacking dedicated WUI fire design guidance, (c) highlighting gaps in existing standards/guidelines to be addressed by current and future research.
Highlights
Fires in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) have become a global issue, with recent disasters taking place in a number of places, including Europe, North/ South America and Oceania [29]
If it develops in a wildfire-prone boundary between structures and vegetation, than it can be considered as a Wildland Urbane Interface (WUI) fire [30]
The WUI fire issue may get worse in the future, due to climate change [27] and population growth in the WUI areas [36]
Summary
Fires in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) have become a global issue, with recent disasters taking place in a number of places, including Europe, North/ South America and Oceania [29]. A wildland fire is defined as an: ‘‘unplanned and uncontrolled fire spreading through vegetative fuels, at times involving structures’’ [32]. If it develops in a wildfire-prone boundary between structures and vegetation, than it can be considered as a Wildland Urbane Interface (WUI) fire [30]. Other regions which have been not traditionally subject to wildfires may become more vulnerable in future years, due to climate change and modifications in the location and wildfire intensity, such as South America, Africa and Northern Europe [27]. The phenomenon of fires in WUI areas should be considered from a broad international perspective
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