What Human Behaviour Can Tell What Human Behaviour Can Tell Us About Residential Fire SafetyUs About Residential Fire SafetyWhat Human Behaviour Can Tell What Human Behaviour Can Tell Us About Residential Fire SafetyUs About Residential Fire Safety

inFire MeetinginFire Meeting

29 February 201229 February 2012WellingtonWellington

Dr Ian MillerDr Ian MillerRegistered PsychologistRegistered Psychologist

inFire MeetinginFire Meeting

29 February 201229 February 2012WellingtonWellington

Dr Ian MillerDr Ian MillerRegistered PsychologistRegistered Psychologist

Background

This presentation considers aspects of fire research undertaken since 2004, including the following -

Background

This presentation considers aspects of fire research undertaken since 2004, including the following -

Miller, I. ( 2005) Human Behaviour Contributing to Unintentional Residential Fire Deaths 1997-2003. NZFS Research Report 49

Miller, I. & Davey, J. ( 2007) The Risks, Perceptions and Experiences of Fire Among Older People. NZFS Research Report 71

Both Reports were funded by the NZFS Contestable Research Fund whose support is gratefully acknowledged

Other sources include –

Miller, I. (2010). Behaviour & Contents: Missing Elements in the Behaviour & Contents: Missing Elements in the Fire Safety EquationFire Safety Equation. Presentation to SPFE. Auckland, NZ. Presentation to SPFE. Auckland, NZ

Miller, I. (2009). Behaviour, Fire and Older People. Presentation to 4th International Symposium on Human Behaviour and Fire. Cambridge, UK.

Miller, I. (2008). Human Behavioural Factors & the New Zealand Fire Performance Code. Report to Department of Building & Housing. Wellington. NZ

Miller, I., & Beever, P. (2005). Victim Behaviours, Intentionality, & Differential Risks in Residential Fire Deaths. Presentation 1st International Conference on Safety & Security Engineering. Rome, Italy.

Other sources include –

Miller, I. (2010). Behaviour & Contents: Missing Elements in the Behaviour & Contents: Missing Elements in the Fire Safety EquationFire Safety Equation. Presentation to SPFE. Auckland, NZ. Presentation to SPFE. Auckland, NZ

Miller, I. (2009). Behaviour, Fire and Older People. Presentation to 4th International Symposium on Human Behaviour and Fire. Cambridge, UK.

Miller, I. (2008). Human Behavioural Factors & the New Zealand Fire Performance Code. Report to Department of Building & Housing. Wellington. NZ

Miller, I., & Beever, P. (2005). Victim Behaviours, Intentionality, & Differential Risks in Residential Fire Deaths. Presentation 1st International Conference on Safety & Security Engineering. Rome, Italy.

“Carelessness and recklessness – the human element – constitute a major contribution to our annual toll of death and destruction by fire. But the

educational approach has its limitations and must be fortified and supported by the application of modern scientific methods and techniques of construction,

protection, firefighting and statutory requirements. These are the roles of engineering and enforcement in the fire prevention field. The importance of

each approach is recognized in the balanced, comprehensive action programme of the Conference.”

1947 US Presidential Commission on Fire1947 US Presidential Commission on Fire

3E 3E ModelModel

Engineering

EngineeringEnf

orce

men

t

Enfor

cem

ent

EducationEducation

What is the progress over 65 years?What is the progress over 65 years?

Expectation that fire behaviour is considered

Using established scientific methodology

Substantial research data available

Expectation that fire behaviour is considered

Using established scientific methodology

Substantial research data available

Expectation that human behaviour is considered

Difficult to quantify some behavioural factors

Difficult to define expected behaviour patterns

Limited recognition of human behaviour studies of fire

Expectation that human behaviour is considered

Difficult to quantify some behavioural factors

Difficult to define expected behaviour patterns

Limited recognition of human behaviour studies of fire

Fire Safety Design Process

Behavioural Data Sources –

Unintentional Residential Fire Fatalities Database: includes all Fire Reports and Coronial Investigations on unintentional residential fire deaths from 1.9.94. Curently 336 cases (108 cases under review)

All building fires reported to NZFS 2004 - 2007 All building fires reported to NZFS 2004 - 2007 (16,173(16,173 events). This includes i events). This includes injury data for 2004-njury data for 2004-2007 supplemented with additional information fron 2007 supplemented with additional information fron NZ Health Informations Service.NZ Health Informations Service.

Behavioural Data Sources –

Unintentional Residential Fire Fatalities Database: includes all Fire Reports and Coronial Investigations on unintentional residential fire deaths from 1.9.94. Curently 336 cases (108 cases under review)

All building fires reported to NZFS 2004 - 2007 All building fires reported to NZFS 2004 - 2007 (16,173(16,173 events). This includes i events). This includes injury data for 2004-njury data for 2004-2007 supplemented with additional information fron 2007 supplemented with additional information fron NZ Health Informations Service.NZ Health Informations Service.

Key Fire Incidence findings –Key Fire Incidence findings –

57.0%57.0% of of allall building fires involve single dwellings building fires involve single dwellings or multi-unit Housingor multi-unit Housing, - Commercial and Industrial buildings are involved in 21.3% of fires

Housing is a special case. Activities in the home are not always governed by expectations that apply in other settings - fire responses may be laissez faire or impromptu compared to other contexts where normative responses and obedience to fire instructions are social expectations. Activities in the home potentially increase fire risks as less formal constraints apply compared to other settings.

Key Fire Incidence findings –Key Fire Incidence findings –

57.0%57.0% of of allall building fires involve single dwellings building fires involve single dwellings or multi-unit Housingor multi-unit Housing, - Commercial and Industrial buildings are involved in 21.3% of fires

Housing is a special case. Activities in the home are not always governed by expectations that apply in other settings - fire responses may be laissez faire or impromptu compared to other contexts where normative responses and obedience to fire instructions are social expectations. Activities in the home potentially increase fire risks as less formal constraints apply compared to other settings.

% Reported Fires vs Building Classification

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Housing – Single Dwelling

Housing – Multi-unit/Group

Commercial

Industrial

Outbuildings

Communal Non-residential Assembly Care

Communal Non-residential Assembly Service

Communal Residential Assembly Care (Unrestrained)

Communal Residential Assembly Service

Communal Residential Assembly Care (Restrained)

Ancillary

% Reported FiresN = 16,473

Incidence of All Fires by Building ClassificationIncidence of All Fires by Building Classification

% Reported Fires by Attributed Causation

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38

Extreme Conditions

Recklessness

Carelessness with Material Ignited

Design Construction Installation Fault

Other Supposed Cause

Unknown

Operating Deficiency

Deliberately Lit

Mechanical Failure Malfunction

Carelessness with Heat Source

Attributed Causation of Building FiresAttributed Causation of Building FiresN = 16,473

% Fire Fatalities by General Location - 1988-2008

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75

Housing

Motor Vehicles

Communal Residential

Motor Vehicles (as Housing)

Industrial

Outbuilding

Aircraft, Boat

Commercial

Ancillary

Communal Residential Restrained

Communal Non-residential

% Fatal Fires

Features of Fatal Building FiresFeatures of Fatal Building Fires 1988-20081988-2008

Fatal fires largely occur in housing (67.6%). Mobile motor Fatal fires largely occur in housing (67.6%). Mobile motor vehicle fires are the next highest group of fatalities (17.7%).vehicle fires are the next highest group of fatalities (17.7%).

1. Case I dentifiers

2. NZFS Responses

3. Climatic Factors

4. Locality Features

5. Structure Features

6. Fire Features

7. Temporal Features

8. Victim Demographics

9. Fatality Details

10. Cause of Death

11. Pathology Details

12. Substance Use

14. Health Factors

15. Victim in Fire

16. Actions Others

17. Narrative Summary

Unintentional Residential Fire

Fatalities Database Structure

NZFS

Info

rmatio

nC

oro

nia

l In

form

ati

on

Fatal Residential Fire DeathsFatal Residential Fire Deaths 1995-20081995-2008N= 236N= 236

Most unintentional fatal residential fires involve single Most unintentional fatal residential fires involve single casualties, in 236 individual residential fires -casualties, in 236 individual residential fires -

205 (86.9%) involved 1 death205 (86.9%) involved 1 death 21 (8.9%) involved 2 deaths21 (8.9%) involved 2 deaths 9 (3.8%) involved 3 deaths9 (3.8%) involved 3 deaths 1 (0.4%) involved 5 deaths1 (0.4%) involved 5 deaths

Most victims died in the fire or immediately proximate to it – Most victims died in the fire or immediately proximate to it –

86.2% died at the time of the fire86.2% died at the time of the fire 5.8% within 24 hours5.8% within 24 hours

The longest survivor succumbed 40 days after the fireThe longest survivor succumbed 40 days after the fire

Age Group Fatal Residential Fire Victims

0

36

9

1215

1821

24

2730

33

3639

42

0-4.9

05-9.9

10-14.9

15-19.9

20-24.9

25-29.9

30-34.9

30-35.9

35-35.9

35-39.9

40-44.9

45-49.9

50-54.9

55-59.9

60-64.9

65-69.9

70-74.9

75-79.9

80-84.9

85-89.9

90-94.9

90-95.9

95-99.9N

umbe

r

Children & Young Persons 28.3%Adults 48.1%Older People 23.6%

Age Grouping Fatal Residential FiresAge Grouping Fatal Residential Fires

Human agency is overwhelmingly implicated in Human agency is overwhelmingly implicated in unintentional residential fire fatalities, as is illustrated in the unintentional residential fire fatalities, as is illustrated in the following causes of fatal fires –following causes of fatal fires –

Unattended cooking Unattended cooking 17.3%17.3%Careless smokingCareless smoking 16.9%16.9%Carelessness with material ignitedCarelessness with material ignited 12.9%12.9%Child with FlameChild with Flame 8.8% 8.8%Carelessness with heat sourceCarelessness with heat source 8.8% 8.8%

Around 12% of fires were due to undetermined causes - Around 12% of fires were due to undetermined causes - usually these involved multiple options which could not be usually these involved multiple options which could not be defined to a single cause. defined to a single cause.

Causes of Fatal Residential FiresCauses of Fatal Residential Fires 1995-20081995-2008

Causation of Fatal Residential FiresCausation of Fatal Residential Fires N = 249N = 249

Causation Unintentional Fatal Residential Fires

0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30

Environmental Failure

Electrical Fault

Gas Fault

Recklessness

Overloaded Electrical Circuit

Electric Appliance Fault

Faulty Electric Blanket

Carelessness with Heat Source

Child Using Flame

Not Determined

Carelessness with Material Ignited

Careless Smoking

Unattended Cooking

Det

erm

ined

Cau

se

% Fatal Fires

-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-10123456789

% V

aria

tion

Non

-fat

al F

ires

% Baseline Variation Unintentional Fatal Fires

% Variation -4.3 -4.9 -1.8 -4.1 -2.6 -5.2 -5.7 -3.6 -0.5 -0.9 1.2 1.6 4.7 8.1 7.3 5.4 4.6 2.8 3.7 4.1 -2.6 -2.3 -2.3 -2.7

12:00-

12:5

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15:00-

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16:00-

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17:00-

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18:00-

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Diurnal Pattern of Fatal Residential Fires Diurnal Pattern of Fatal Residential Fires The diurnal pattern of unintentional fatal fires contrasts with non-fatal fires and highlights nocturnal factors as contributive factors.The diurnal pattern of unintentional fatal fires contrasts with non-fatal fires and highlights nocturnal factors as contributive factors.

Higher likelihood between 2200-0700 hrs than non-fatal unintentional fires.

The DID is derived from census mesh block records for all The DID is derived from census mesh block records for all addresses. It is adjusted with each census and provides a addresses. It is adjusted with each census and provides a deprivation score derived from 9 variables reflecting 8 deprivation score derived from 9 variables reflecting 8 dimensions of material and social deprivation including– dimensions of material and social deprivation including– income, employment, communication, transport, support, income, employment, communication, transport, support, qualifications, living space, & home ownership.qualifications, living space, & home ownership.

DIDDID uses a scale ranging from 1 (the least deprived scores) to uses a scale ranging from 1 (the least deprived scores) to 10 (the most deprived scores). These scores provide 10 (the most deprived scores). These scores provide indicativeindicative information about properties where fatal fires have occurred information about properties where fatal fires have occurred rather than rather than absoluteabsolute measures - they offer some objective measures - they offer some objective indication about the socio-economic status of the residences indication about the socio-economic status of the residences involved in fatal fires. Note: these scores apply to areas involved in fatal fires. Note: these scores apply to areas rather than to individual people.rather than to individual people.

Deprivation Index Decile and Fatal Residential FiresDeprivation Index Decile and Fatal Residential Fires

% Fire Victims vs Deprivation Decile

0

3

6

9

12

15

18

21

24

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Deprivation Decile

% V

ictim

sDeprivation Index Decile and Fatal Residential FiresDeprivation Index Decile and Fatal Residential Fires

74.8% inDeciles 6-10

50.0% inDeciles 8-10

LeastDeprived

MostDeprived

Injury data suggests that debate over whether burns or smoke inhalation are the more serious risk factors is somewhat academic –

• Smoke appears a more insidious risk factor as occupants may not seek to avoid contact with it in the early stages of fire growth thus exposing themselves to developing health consequences.

• Flames and heat usually provoke an immediate avoidance responses.

Injury data suggests that debate over whether burns or smoke inhalation are the more serious risk factors is somewhat academic –

• Smoke appears a more insidious risk factor as occupants may not seek to avoid contact with it in the early stages of fire growth thus exposing themselves to developing health consequences.

• Flames and heat usually provoke an immediate avoidance responses.

Causes of Death in Fatal Residential fires

0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 36 39 42 45 48 51 54 57 60

Asphyxia/Hypoxia

Other Factors

Effects of Fire

Burns

Effects of CO

Smoke Inhalation

% Coronial Findings

Inquest Cause of Residential Fire DeathsInquest Cause of Residential Fire Deaths

Note: more than one cause can apply to an

individual fatality

% Blood CO Concentration

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100

Victim Age

% B

lood

CO

% Blood CO Saturation in Fire Fatalities% Blood CO Saturation in Fire Fatalities

Dis

com

fort

Imp

airm

ent

Inca

pac

itat

ion

NZ Residential Fire Fatalities: 1995-2000

Note: Blood CO levels not available in all cases

0

40

80

120

160

200

240

280

320

360

400

440

480

520

560

600

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100

Age

BA

C m

g/10

0ml

Blood Alcohol in Fatal Residential FiresBlood Alcohol in Fatal Residential Fires

NZ LegalDriving Limit

Note: Blood alcohol levels not available in all cases

DICHThreshold

NZ Residential Fire Fatalities: 1995-2000

Children & Young Persons

Adults Older People

A Challenge for Fire Safety and PreventionA Challenge for Fire Safety and Prevention

While regulatory requirements and engineering have While regulatory requirements and engineering have increasingly reduced building fire risks, these have had a increasingly reduced building fire risks, these have had a

lesser impact on the behaviour of occupants. Specifically, the lesser impact on the behaviour of occupants. Specifically, the nature of contents brought into buildings and risky activities nature of contents brought into buildings and risky activities of occupants suggests that a major challenge for fire safety of occupants suggests that a major challenge for fire safety

and prevention involves assumptions thatand prevention involves assumptions that all people all people are are equally educable about fire risksequally educable about fire risks - especially in the home. - especially in the home.

““My home is my castle” My home is my castle” belies a belief that individual belies a belief that individual security and attachment is tied to the home and living security and attachment is tied to the home and living

environment. environment.

Unfortunately, normative behaviour in the home does not Unfortunately, normative behaviour in the home does not always relate to that exhibited in public or the work place, always relate to that exhibited in public or the work place,

especially concerning fire safety and prevention.especially concerning fire safety and prevention.

Questions?Questions?