High-Pressure Fire Prevention System in Venice

Abstract

In the 1990s, the Venice City Council made the decision to protect the historic centre with a more reliable fire-fighting system that would provide constant access to water regardless of tide levels, guarantee fire hydrant pressure, and use fresh water instead of lagoon water. A fire risk analysis of the diverse environmental situations that characterize the various areas of the city was also commissioned. Public and private bodies were given the opportunity to connect the internal fire-fighting systems of their buildings to the city network, allowing them to avoid the expensive and invasive work required for the installation of water tanks and pressurization facilities (as well as subsequent maintenance work), while still qualifying for Fire Prevention Certification. Approximately 60% of the historic centre of Venice (including a part of the island of Burano) is now served by this fire-fighting network. So far, 52 km of pipeline (including 2.5 km to Burano) have been laid, seven pressurization units (one in Burano) and about 760 hydrants (including 30 in Burano) have been installed, and over 100 users have been connected to the system. However, certain important areas of the city have yet to be covered by the network: a part of the area in and around Saint Mark’s Square, parts of the Castello, Santa Croce and Dorsoduro districts, and the island of Giudecca. Although the system has reduced the risk of fire in most critical situations, the network must be extended to cover the entire city as soon as possible. Priority must be given to the Saint Mark’s area (currently the subject of a specific study, given its unique characteristics), the architectural and historical value of which is immeasurable.