Factors Influencing Fire Safety in Brazil
Factors Influencing Fire Safety in Brazil Project Number: BJM-001D An Interactive Qualifying Project Report submitted to the Faculty of the WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science By _________________________ Jeremy P. Francisco Date: __________________________ Marissa A. Imperiali Date: Approved: _________________________ Professor Brian J. Meacham, Advisor Abstract Research was conducted on factors influencing fire safety in Brazil and how implementation of a national fire incident reporting system could help. Review of fire incident reporting systems from the United States, United Kingdom, Finland, Singapore, and Hong Kong revealed several attributes, which if implemented, could help improve the fire problem in Brazil. However, research suggests that several other factors need to be addressed first, including the challenges associated with favelas, fire safety culture, fire regulations and fire service resources. i Executive Summary In many developed countries, a national fire incident reporting system has been implemented to collect data on fires. Data are then used in support of several fire safety activities, including to: support building and fire regulation development, characterize the fire problem for resource allocation purposes, and identify what sectors of the population are most at risk from fire and why. However, in developing countries such as Brazil, implementation of nation-wide fire incident reporting systems have not been successful. This Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP) looks at issues which may be impeding the implementation of a national fire incident reporting system in Brazil and identifies factors that could potentially help address the fire problem. In particular, major issues investigated included fire safety culture and fire regulation, and economic, governmental, environmental, and demographic factors.
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