Historic or heritage buildings are structures considered valuable because of their architectural design, historic importance, or cultural significance. They might be located in conservation areas, built in traditional styles, or hold a special place in a country’s history. Governments around the world maintain official lists of such buildings to protect them for future generations. For instance, in the United States, there is the National Register of Historic Places, while in England, you have the National Heritage List for England. Spain maintains the Registro de Bienes de Interés Cultural, and globally, UNESCO manages the World Heritage List, which recognizes sites and buildings that are unique and important on an international scale.
These buildings are considered treasures of our civilization, representing our shared history, culture, and creativity. Organizations like ICOMOS (International Council on Monument and Sites) and the United Nations (through its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development) work to ensure these places are preserved.
But one major threat makes the preservation of heritage buildings very challenging: fire.
Fire: A Serious Threat to Heritage Preservation
Throughout history, catastrophic fires have destroyed entire cities and valuable cultural landmarks. Famous examples include the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD, the Great Fire of London in 1666, and the three major fires that ravaged New York City in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1871, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed thousands of buildings and reshaped the city forever.
Unfortunately, heritage buildings are particularly vulnerable to fire. Many were built centuries ago, long before modern fire safety standards and technology existed. As a result, they usually do not meet current building codes or fire prevention requirements.
Several factors increase the fire risk in historic buildings:
- High fire loads: These buildings often have a lot of wood, old textiles, paper archives, and other materials that burn easily.
- Proximity to other structures: Many historic buildings are located close together in city centers, which can cause a fire to spread quickly.
- Limited access: Narrow streets or historic layouts often make it difficult for firefighters and emergency services to reach the buildings in time.
In recent decades, devastating fires have destroyed or severely damaged numerous heritage sites. Examples include Windsor Castle in England (1992), the National Museum of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro (2018), and the famous Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris (2019). Entire historic neighborhoods have also been lost, such as the Chiado district in Lisbon, Portugal, in 1988, and parts of the city of Funchal on Madeira Island in 2016.
The destruction caused by such fires goes beyond the physical structure. Historic buildings often house irreplaceable contents—antique furniture, works of art, archives, and artifacts—that are lost forever once destroyed.
Why Rehabilitating Historic Buildings is So Important
Preserving historic buildings is not only about honoring cultural heritage. Rehabilitating and reusing these buildings also supports sustainability. Compared to demolishing old structures and building new ones, rehabilitation uses fewer resources and generates less waste. Studies have shown that adaptive reuse of heritage buildings has a lower environmental impact, which helps combat climate change and promotes more responsible construction practices.
However, adapting historic buildings to meet modern fire safety codes is often very difficult. Most building codes are prescriptive, meaning they require specific features (like sprinkler systems or fire-resistant walls). Installing these systems in a centuries-old structure can lead to massive changes that harm the building’s historical value. In some cases, when the required changes cannot be made, owners may be forced to partially or completely demolish the building.
This creates a challenging balancing act: how do you make a heritage building safe from fire while also protecting its historical integrity?
The Need for New Fire Safety Strategies
Experts agree that fire safety in historic buildings cannot rely on a “one-size-fits-all” approach. Instead, each building needs its own customized strategy. Performance-based approaches, which focus on achieving safety outcomes rather than strictly following prescriptive codes, can be a better solution. This method allows fire engineers to design systems that meet safety standards without compromising the building’s architecture or cultural value.
However, there is still a lack of specific guidelines in most fire safety codes when it comes to heritage buildings. More research and collaboration are needed to close these gaps.
How Researchers Are Addressing the Problem
A comprehensive review was recently carried out to study the issue of fire in historic buildings. The researchers collected data from the Scopus bibliographic database using a set of specific search terms like “fire,” “fire engineering,” “historic buildings,” and “heritage structures.” These keywords were combined in 24 different ways to capture as many relevant studies as possible. Only peer-reviewed journal articles and conference papers written in English were included to maintain quality.
To ensure no important studies were missed, they also checked Google Scholar and the Web of Science databases. In total, 125 studies were selected for analysis. These studies were then categorized into different research areas based on the specific fire safety challenges they addressed.
The researchers also performed a statistical analysis called correspondence analysis to identify knowledge gaps—areas where more research is needed.
What the Keyword Analysis Revealed
Using specialized software called VOSviewer, the team carried out a bibliometric analysis of keywords found in the studies. This type of analysis helps identify the most popular topics and how they are related.
The results showed 54 key terms that appeared in more than five studies. These terms were mapped visually, with larger circles representing the most frequently used keywords. Lines connecting the circles indicated how closely related the topics were, while colors represented the average publication year.
The analysis revealed that some areas, like fire detection systems in heritage buildings, are well-studied, while others, like how fire impacts cultural value, still need more research.
Final Thoughts
Fire remains one of the biggest threats to the preservation of heritage buildings. Protecting these structures requires a careful balance between safety, sustainability, and heritage conservation. By conducting detailed reviews and identifying knowledge gaps, researchers can help develop strategies that better protect these cultural treasures without sacrificing their unique architectural features.
This issue goes beyond just saving old buildings. Preserving historic structures helps maintain the cultural identity of cities, supports sustainable construction practices, and ensures that future generations can continue to enjoy and learn from these remarkable pieces of our shared history.