Agreement-Based Design Applying Pathetic Dot Theory to Ensure Adequate Fire Safety in a Transforming Society

The present study highlights the significance of communication in ensuring fire safety measures among individuals involved in buildings and tenant lots. It identifies the lack of communication stemming from unconscious reliance on fire safety laws and a scarcity of fire safety knowledge. To address this, use of a communication sheet is proposed to facilitate communication among the individuals involved, raise awareness of fire safety concerns, and ensure agreement on fire safety measures even among non-professionals. Currently, participation of fire safety engineers in communication about fire safety measures in small-scale buildings is rare in Japan. However, fire safety engineers are expected to be crucial facilitators in this process, leveraging their expertise to ensure adequate safety measures are implemented. In the face of rapid social transformation, simply adhering to the existing constraint, i.e., the law, may not suffice. In light of this, the present study proposed the activation of three other constraints, such as the market, architecture, and social norm for fire safety through communication, referring to Lessig’s pathetic dot theory. The shift to proactive communication and agreement on safety levels beyond legal requirements will enable sustainable building fire safety throughout society.