For Kim Woods Only

Philip Schaenman's report, International Concepts in Fire Protection: Ideas

from Europe that Could Improve U.S. Fire Safety, suggests that some European

fire safety procedures are worthy of emulation in the United States and Canada. 26

The author visited a number of European countries in an effort to learn why fire

statistics are so much more favorable on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.

The report suggests that European citizens are more aware of the hazards of

fire than are North Americans because of the major fires that have stricken their

cities during wars and during the Middle Ages. They support stronger fire regula-

tions and receive more instruction on fire safety from their parents. The report

also suggests that these countries have stronger building and fire safety codes and

that these codes are in effect in rural as well as urban areas; many rural areas in

the United States lack such codes. (Insurance also plays a more prominent role

than in the United States. Insurance carriers have plan-review authority and may,

in fact, operate as government agencies.)

The extensive use of chimney sweeps in Europe may also help prevent fires in

residences. In some countries, visits by chimney sweeps are mandatory. Consumer

products are regulated more strictly, and electrical and gas-powered products

cannot be sold unless tested and approved by the government.

Schaenman found that European fire officers generally have more education

in fire protection and building technology than their counterparts in the United

States. This means that they are more oriented toward plan review and code en-

forcement. This is exemplified by the report of the British Fire Prevention Com-

mittee on the occasion of their visit to the Munich, Germany, fire brigade in

connection with an international fire service congress in Budapest, Hungary, in

1904. They found the brigade to have full responsibility for plan reviews, fire

safety inspections, and related activities. Fire officers were required to pass quali-

fying examinations in building construction. Schaenman also found that fire-

fighter injuries are fewer in Europe. Self-contained breathing apparatus has been

widely used in Europe since well before World War II. Firefighters have ridden in-

side vehicles rather than on the tailboard for an equally long period of time.

Most European firefighters are trained in fire prevention and code enforce-

ment in their recruit training programs, but such training is less common in the

United States. Senior fire officers in Europe devote a much greater percentage of

their time to fire prevention and code enforcement duties.

The report also notes that the Fire Research Station at Borehamwood, United

Kingdom, has been switching its research emphasis from structures toward con-

tents, reflecting a growing need to address fire problems related to consumer

products rather than to construction features.

Schaenman has prepared a third report, International Concepts in Fire Pro-

tection: New Ideas from Europe. Fire safety efforts of the United Kingdom, The

Netherlands, Austria, and Hungary are examined in this publication. Austria and

The Netherlands are recognized as having among the lowest fire death rates in the

world. Both have excellent fire safety education programs.V

A fourth report by Schaenman, International Concepts in Fire Protection:

Latin and Asian Nations, describes fire safety practices in those areas of the

world. This information is especially helpful to fire safety practitioners in com-

munities having immigrants from these nations.''