Fire
prevention in building construction is a critical consideration for
those having responsibility for design, construction or refurbishment of
new and existing buildings. This is specifically relevant, when
considering the diversity of building types, as this is generally
described as the “built environment.” Too often, the difference between a
safe environment and a deadly one is only a few minutes, if adequate
fire protection measures have not been considered.
How a fire
develops is totally dependent on how it is controlled. Design measures
are taken to influence the formation and spread of fire, smoke and toxic
gasses throughout the built environment, typically adopting a balanced
approach.