PROJECTS

MAIN OBJECTIVE

The project aims to create a model that, based on the expected fire behaviour, makes it possible to determine the forest fuel management area that best suits each industrial zone. The project also intends to provide solutions at the construction level that difficult or prevent the start and spread of fire in industrial zones, by defining the best construction planning for each industrial zone.

SCOPE

The catastrophic forest fires recorded in recent years in Portugal have highlighted the vulnerability of urban agglomerations and industrial zones located in forest areas. The fires of 2017 had a huge impact with a high loss of human lives and infrastructures, particularly in industrial zones. In relation to the latter, there is an urgent need to try to understand what can be done to avoid the damage caused by large fires, through scientific studies that allow us to know the phenomena associated with these damages. These studies involve two questions of a very distinct but complementary nature: what is the behaviour of fire around industrial zones and what are the building characteristics of these zones.

Regarding the first aspect, the legislation requires fuel management around industrial perimeters according to criteria that are not scientifically based. The type and structure of the surrounding vegetation may have a decisive influence on the behaviour of the fire, but the existing knowledge in this respect is still insufficient to guide an adequate management. It is intended, based on simulations of fire behaviour, to propose solutions for the management of vegetation that allow minimizing damage around industrial areas.

Regarding the second aspect, it is important to study the best solutions in terms of construction that hinder or prevent the start and spread of fire. This involves choosing the most suitable materials, and defining solutions that minimize the likelihood of the fire spreading to the interior or adjacent buildings. To this end, the fire propagation within the industrial zone itself must be analysed in order to determine the best construction network for each zone.

The project foresees the implementation of the proposed measures in some industrial zones, from North to South of Portugal, but the research work focuses mainly on central Portugal. This interdisciplinary project has the participation of four entities with complementary roles. The project is coordinated by Itecons - Institute of Research and Technological Development for Construction, Energy, Environment and Sustainability, of the University of Coimbra, (structural component) in partnership with ESAC - Coimbra Polytechnic School of Agriculture (forestry component). The project partners are CIM RC - Intermunicipal Commission Region of Coimbra and ANEPC - National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection.

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