A global coalition of over 80 fire safety leadership organizations has launched a new Decade of Action for Fire Safety 2022-2032, to ensure an internationally consistent approach to the safety and management of buildings, infrastructure, and more to save lives by reducing risk and preventing devastating fires.
Decade of Action for Fire Safety
The launch of the Decade of Action for Fire Safety is backed by the UN and builds on the International Fire Safety Standard - Common Principles (IFSS-CP) published by the International Fire Safety Standards Coalition (IFSS) in October 2020.
It follows extensive work to bring public confidence around the regulation and control of fire safety measures.
performance-based objectives framework
The Decade of Action delivers a clear goal, performance-based objectives framework, and common actions that align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that can take place at the individual, community, city, national, regional, and global levels, which can be defined as follows:
- Pillar 1 - People – actions to help individuals and groups understand fire, and what they can do to increase their understanding.
- Pillar 2 - Products – actions to reduce fire hazards associated with appliances, contents, and building components.
- Pillar 3 - Structures – actions to reduce fire hazards associated with structures including planning, design, and operation.
- Pillar 4 - Infrastructure – actions to help enhance firefighting infrastructure.
- Pillar 5 - Communities – actions to facilitate sustainable and fire-resilient communities.
IFSS Coalition
Contrasting approaches have resulted in significant variations in the design, approval, and construction methods
The IFSS Coalition is an industry-led global response to address differing or, in some cases, non-existent requirements in countries across the world for fire safety.
Contrasting approaches have resulted in significant variations in the design, approval, construction methods, and operation of buildings and infrastructure, impacting fire risk.
fire safety in buildings
Gary Strong, Chair of the IFSS Coalition, said, "Our coalition has worked hard to produce this globally applicable way to bring improvements and consistency in fire safety to buildings and infrastructure new and old and reduce the risk to lives."
He adds, "The goal of the Decade of Action for Fire Safety is to stabilize and reduce the forecast level of fire fatalities, injuries, economic cost, and environmental impact around the world by 2032 despite an increase in population over this period."
training, education, and resources
Gary Strong continues, "This new initiative is unprecedented, being the first agreement on fire safety actions on this international scale, with its development supported by the United Nations in line with its own sustainable development goals."
He further said, "It is the outcome of extensive work and worldwide expertise on fire safety drawn from over 80 coalition organizations, and will bring reassurance that the construction and management of buildings and infrastructure upholds appropriate fire safety standards, with improved training, education, and resources."
