Fires in Human Settlements

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Fires in Human Settlements
Fires in Human Settlements Presentation to
Parliaments Portfolio Committee on
Housing Presented By Kim Yates CSIR Boutek 19-20
April 2005
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Our role

• The objects of the CSIR are,
• through directed and particularly
  multi-disciplinary research and technological
  innovation,
• to foster, in the national interest .,
  industrial and scientific development ,
• to contribute to the improvement of the quality
  of life of the people of the Republic..

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Forensic Fire Investigation

• Core business is the origin and cause
  determination of building, vehicle and wildland
  fires.
• Working relationships with many of the major
  stakeholders including FPASA, International
  Association of Arson Investigators, PASASA,
  Working on Fire, Insurance Industry etc.

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Formal Housing

• Fire Safety is regulated by existing codes (SABS
  0400 Part T)
• Monetary loss is more extensive per individual
  unit, but fire spread to other dwellings is
  usually very limited.

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Formal Housing

• According to FPASAs 2003 Statistics there were
• 3173 fires
• Loss R195 Million
• 73 Deaths

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Fires in Informal Settlements

• Affects more people.
• Consequences are huge.
• Fires are often highly publicized.
• Need for solution has been recognized e.g. PASASA
  competition to develop a safer paraffin stove.
• Must be seen as a priority.

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Statistics

• According to FPASAs 2003 Statistics there were
• 3562 fires in informal dwellings
• Monetary loss of approximately R31 Million
• 192 Deaths

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Summary Statistics
3562
3173
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Summary Statistics
31
195
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Summary Statistics
192
73
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Human Settlement Planning Design
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Defining the Problem Fires in Informal
Settlements

• There will always be fires, but better solutions
  must be found.
• As with any scientific process, the problem must
  be properly defined through research before
  solutions can be proposed.
• Only limited research available that defines the
  South African fire problem in informal
  settlements.
• There are no quick solutions.

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Defining the Problem Fires in Informal
Settlements

• Key Issues
• What are the major causes of these fires?
• What are the contributory factors that
• Influence rapid fire growth within individual
  structures (type of fuel, geometry of fuel,
  ventilation etc)
• Influence fire spread between occupancies (design
  materials, planning, geographical and climatic
  influences, regulations, fire suppression etc)
• Socio-Economic Factors
• Regional Influences (Geographical / Climatic)

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Addressing the Problem

• Once the problem has been defined through
  research we will be in a position to implement
  strategies to mitigate, minimize and manage the
  problem i.e. the loss of life and property caused
  by fire
• Cost effective
• Socially acceptable

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Addressing the Problem

• Approach must be multi-disciplinary
• fire scientists
• material scientists
• civil engineers
• town and regional planners
• fire brigade
• civic society
• regulators
• etc.

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Addressing the Problem

• Strategies developed within the South African
  context may also serve as solutions for other
  countries with similar problems within informal
  settlements.

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Summary

• Fires in informal settlements are devastating
  events.
• Better approaches can be found.
• Define the problem through proper research.
• Manage the problem holistically and with
  multi-disciplinary and integrated input.

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Summary

• There is also core competence at CSIR Boutek
  available to address the issues and problems
  surrounding flooding in human settlements.

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Contact Details

• Kim Yates
• PO Box 395
• Pretoria
• 0001
• Email kyates_at_csir.co.za
• Fax [phone]
• Tel [phone]
• Cell 0828929355