En studie av vindsbränder utifrån statistik och brandutredningar

This report provides a detailed study of attic fires that have occurred in Swedish apartment
buildings in order to determine if there are specific technical or organizational factors that influence
them. The study has been carried out by a combined analysis of rescue service statistics with case
studies based on detailed fire investigations. In the case study a total of 27 fire investigations were
studied. The analysis of statistics and fire investigations are complementary since conclusions can be
drawn that cannot be found when only one of the sources are used. The analysis of statistics
provides general pattern for a greater number of fires with varying degrees while the fire
investigations, provide more detailed information on specific cases.
From the analysis several conclusions can be drawn on why the attic fires become more extensive
than fires in other spaces. A couple of measures to avoid severe attic fires have also been identified.
Although there are gaps in the statistics and the fire investigations they still constitute a good base to
gather experience from past events. It is not sure that statistics is appropriate to use for anything
more than to see trends in individual factors such as fire causes or first item of ignition. To obtain a
deeper understanding of fire development and the function of fire protection measures, it is
necessary to study fire investigations as well as statistics.