Extinguishing Fires in Residential Buildings

Abstract Fire fighting with water is the most common method of fire suppression. In reference [1], the author states that 1 ml of water can extinguish a fire with a volume of 50 dm3. Although many fire detection and protection techniques are available for buildings, fires in residential buildings are still considered to be a significant risk to the occupants of apartment buildings. This paper presents a proposal for an approach to fire fighting in residential buildings, with particular emphasis on the need for water, a strategy for fire fighting by firefighting units using a specific example, and with a proposal for the possible application of modern technologies to support rescue and firefighting work. It addresses the questions of how the type of residential building influences the tactical approach in a fire, which techniques and intervention strategies are most effective for rapid fire location and occupant evacuation, how data, simulations and smart technologies can be used to support decision-making during intervention, what are the main failure points (critical factors) in real residential building interventions. Providing fire protection in residential buildings is a complex issue that requires cooperation between owners, building managers and professional companies. It is important to ensure regular inspection and maintenance of the systems and compliance with all applicable regulations in the field of fire protection, e.g. Act No.314/2001, Coll. 121/2002 Coll. on fire prevention, Decree of the Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic No. 94/2004 Coll., STN 730802 Fire safety of buildings. The article concludes with the application of the HRA method, which is considered a systematic tool for identifying, assessing, and classifying risks arising from human error during critical intervention activities. In the case of firefighter intervention, it helps improve safety, efficiency, and decision-making under stressful and time-pressured conditions when fighting fires in residential buildings.