Several studies have established a connection between the firefighter occupation and the elevated chance of cancer and illnesses attributed to the harsh environment and exposure to airborne combustion products. This especially concerns airborne particles small enough to penetrate protective garments and human skin. These particles also often contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are known carcinogens. When developing new textiles for personal protective equipment (PPE), it is therefore important to document their particle and PAH penetration-blocking ability. Despite this, currently, no relevant, standardised and cost-efficient test method exists. This study introduces a novel method specifically designed for screening PPE textiles, filling critical gaps in available test methods, to facilitate future improved understanding of the protective ability of firefighter garments in preventing carcinogen exposure. In the proposed method, the PPE textiles are exposed to fire smoke from burning PVC plastic, polyurethane foam, and spruce wood in a standardised setup using the cone calorimeter. The smoke passes through an exposure tunnel with a PPE textile mounted on it while particle concentration, PAH content and temperatures are systematically measured on each side of the textile. The method shows promising results for the generation of “standardised” smoke and for documenting particle penetration through PPE textiles. Some remaining challenges related to repeatability and the costs involved are discussed.

Bio-based insulating materials are increasingly used in construction due to their environmental benefits. However, these materials are particularly susceptible to smoldering fires, a phenomenon of slow, flameless and self-sustaining combustion, that is very difficult to detect. This study includes two experimental approaches to analyze smoldering fires in wood fiber boards with low (50 kg/m³) and high (140 kg/m³) densities. The tests were conducted using a cone calorimeter (ISO 5660-1) and a smoldering fire test device (EN 16733). The cone calorimeter uses small-sized samples with continuous thermal exposure, whereas the smoldering fire test bench involves discontinuous thermal exposure and larger sample dimensions. The objective is to better understand the differences in thermal behavior, gas emissions, and material degradation characteristics, while considering key factors influencing the propagation of smoldering fires, such as density or additives. Despite several studies addressing these key factors, a full understanding of the underlying mechanisms has yet to be achieved. The results show that the low-density wood fiber board degrades more rapidly, reaching high combustion temperatures in a shorter period. In contrast, the high-density fiber board has a greater thermal inertia and prolonged combustion. Regarding gas emissions, concentrations of CO, CO₂, and methane vary depending on fiber density, with low-density samples producing higher yield of CO. These findings aim to enhance the understanding of the smoldering behavior of bio-based materials and to emphasize the importance of chemical aspects such as toxic gas emissions, The study contributes to inform future improvements in fire safety practices and may serve as a basis for revisiting or complementing existing fire safety guidelines. The results contribute to a better understanding of the smoldering combustion behavior of bio-based materials, particularly in relation to material density and its influence on fire dynamics. This knowledge is essential for informing practical fire safety strategies, such as early detection systems and material selection in low-ventilation environments and could help to refine fire performance assessment methods within the built environment.

The amount of heat generated during thermal runaway in lithium-ion cells is dependent on the failure mechanism and abuse method. This study determines the heats generated inside and outside a 64 Ah lithium-ion pouch cell when it is forced into thermal runaway by nail penetration, heating, or overcharging. The generated heats were determined by battery calorimetry, jet flame calorimetry, and oxygen depletion calorimetry. The ratio between heat generated inside or outside the cell is found to be dependent on the abuse method. The overcharge experiment was most severe with respect to heat generated outside the cell, with 89% more thermal energy measured by the jet flame calorimeter compared to nail penetration. For heat generated inside the cell it was opposite, where nail penetration was the most severe with 53% more thermal heat generated compared to overcharge. We explain these differences from the cell mass losses during thermal runaway. When the cell mass loss increases, the heat generated outside the cell increases and simultaneously the internal heat generation decreases. For the safety of a battery module, these results imply that the possibility for propagation of a thermal runaway between cells is dependent on failure mechanism.

Wildland–urban interface (WUI) fires are an increasing global challenge, and local knowledge is essential for efficient mitigation. In Norway, as for the rest of Northern Europe, wildfires are expected to increase in frequency and severity, which will also increase WUI vulnerabilities. This study analyzes all registered vegetation fires damaging buildings in Norway from January 2016 to April 2023 (74 fires damaging 102 structures), with a case-by-case review of 18 fires impacting two or more structures. We have identified that spring season fires and direct flame contact are the primary contributors to vegetation fires that damage buildings in Norway. We also provide insights from three wildfire exercises with prescribed burns and a post-fire evaluation, providing fire dynamics data on fires in low vegetation while identifying a need to focus on hazards related to juniper vegetation and unmanaged cultural landscapes. This new knowledge is vital for developing effective and targeted prevention measures for Norwegian communities in WUI areas.

WUI guideline for Norway

Norway is a long country where forests, grass, and heather cover vast areas. Approximately 38% of the country's land area consists of forests, and many structures are located near or surrounded by nature. In these wildland-urban-interface (WUI) areas, a wildfire could damage structures and infrastructure. Norway's tradition of constructing houses and cabins from timber adds an extra layer of vulnerability in WUI areas. As part of the EU-funded research and innovation project TREEADS, Norway's first WUI guideline has been developed to strengthen resilience against wildfires.

The guideline is targeted at citizens in WUI areas, and presents measures that may protect built areas from wildfires. The development of the guide is based on an extensive process, including a literature review of WUI guidelines from countries such as the USA, Canada, and Sweden. This review formed the foundation for a list of relevant topics and recommendations, which were further refined through in-person workshops with stakeholders, surveys, and expert consultations. To ensure relevance for Norwegian conditions, the recommendations were adapted to local building traditions and by using insights from past fire incidents, fieldwork, and laboratory experiments. This process resulted in six main recommendations and five supplementary recommendations).

Norge er et langstrakt land der skog, gress og lyngheier dekker store områder. Omtrent 38 % av landets areal består av skog, og mange bygninger ligger i nærheten av eller er omkranset av natur. I denne randsonen mellom natur og bebyggelse, kjent som Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI), vil en skogbrann eller annen naturbrann kunne gjøre skade på bygninger og infrastruktur. Det at Norge har en tradisjon for å bygge hus og hytter i trematerialer utgjør en ekstra sårbarhet i den norske randsonen.

I det EU-finansierte forsknings- og innovasjonsprosjektet TREEADS er Norges første randsoneveileder utviklet for å styrke motstandsdyktigheten mot naturbranner. Veilederen er rettet mot innbyggere i randsonen mellom natur og bebyggelse og gir konkrete tiltak for hvordan man kan beskytte bebyggelse mot naturbranner.

Utviklingen av veilederen bygger på en omfattende prosess som inkluderer en litteraturgjennomgang av WUI-anbefalinger fra land som USA, Canada og Sverige. Dette dannet grunnlaget for en liste over relevante temaer og anbefalinger, som videre ble utviklet gjennom fysiske arbeidsmøter med interessenter, spørreundersøkelser og ekspertkonsultasjoner. For å sikre relevans for norske forhold ble anbefalingene tilpasset nasjonale byggetradisjoner og erfaringer fra tidligere branner, feltarbeid og laboratorieeksperimenter. Prosessen resulterte i seks hovedanbefalinger og fem tilleggsanbefalinger.

The present research explores the influence of Bjørnis the Fire Bear on residential fire safety in Norway. Our survey, comprising 1275 participants, reveals that Bjørnis spurred the adoption of 5181 fire safety measures among the respondents, averaging 4.1 measures per household. The data suggests a positive association between exposure to Bjørnis and an increased number of safety measures implemented. These results highlight Bjørnis' efficiency in fostering awareness about fire safety, potentially serving as a model for introducing or sustaining similar mascots and initiatives on a global scale