The Road Ahead

Abstract

This chapter sums up some major findings and draws conclusions on desirable future directions for fire safety practices and research. Like in parallel fields of safety where human life is at stake, there is a need for a broadened systems-oriented approach, and towards preventing adverse consequences rather than preventing their preceding events. Due to demographic transitions, the residential fire safety problem is increasingly to be seen as a matter of human vulnerability, thus raising new challenges for all actors involved in designing and providing living environments.

A resident is anyone from zero to hundred years or more. Regardless of age, abilities and health, everyone deserves safe housing conditions. This matter is a shared responsibility across sectors. Relevant actors need to be identified and ascribed roles in a more systematized multi-sectoral fire safety work. Fire safety technology already offers significant protection if fully employed. Yet, new challenges appear ahead in the wake of ageing populations, shifting lifestyles and household structures and changing housing policies for residents with special needs.

A major concern relates to the governance of fire safety at local, national and international levels with regard to leadership, monitoring, accountability, implementation, learning and sharing in order to ensure continuous improvements.