An application of AHP-based fire vulnerability assessment for 20th century mountainous built heritage

This study applies the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) framework to evaluate fire safety risks in 36 historic buildings in Nan’an District, Chongqing, a mountainous urban area with complex geographical and environmental challenges. The research highlights the interplay between geographical clustering, environmental factors and fire safety infrastructure, revealing the tension between preserving the authenticity of heritage buildings and implementing modern fire safety measures. By integrating with field surveys, the study identifies and prioritises critical vulnerability factors. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the AHP framework in systematically quantifying fire risks and providing actionable insights for decision-making. Recommendations are proposed to enhance fire safety, including tailored infrastructure improvements, strengthened management practices, and the integration of unobtrusive fire suppression technologies. This research contributes to the advancement of risk assessment methodologies in heritage conservation and offers a foundation for extending the AHP framework to other risk types or regional contexts.