High-Rise Building Fires

Abstract

High-rise buildings play important roles in densely populated urban areas. Those over 100 m high serve as offices, hotels, and residences. Unfortunately, fires will happen in high-rises, and, because of their size, it is difficult to determine that a fire has occurred except on the floor where it has started and is even more difficult to evacuate residents if fire spreads. The collapse of such large buildings itself may adversely affect urban functions. We discuss the risks of fires in high-rise buildings and measures to be taken based on reviews of cases in high-rise buildings in Japan and the investigation of an office building in Spain that collapsed during a fire.