1. SFT
  2. Archiwum
  3. Vol. 66
  4. Developing an Affordable and User-Fri...

Developing an Affordable and User-Friendly Tool to Evaluate the Fire Risk of Buildings in Sri Lanka

Nalaka Prasanna Jayarathna , prof. Amiya Bhaumik , Udayanga Indunil Galappaththi, Ph.D. , Deepthi Wickramasinghe, Ph.D.

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DOI: 10.12845/sft.66.2.2025.4, pages: 62 – 72

Abstract

Aim: This study presents a locally adapted, user-friendly, and cost-free fire risk assessment tool to enhance fire safety management in Sri Lanka. The tool supports non-specialists, including facility managers, inspectors, and building owners, in systematically evaluating compliance and mitigating fire risks across various building types.

Introduction: Fire safety is vital to the resilience and sustainability of modern buildings. In Sri Lanka, many buildings still function under outdated codes, weak enforcement, and limited technical capacity, compromising occupant safety and urban resilience. Despite rising awareness, fire protection remains largely a compliance exercise rather than a core aspect of sustainable governance. Persistent weaknesses are observed in evacuation design, structural fire protection, suppression systems, and fire safety management. This study presents an affordable, user-friendly fire risk assessment tool aligned with Sri Lanka’s regulatory framework, assessing five key domains to determine compliance and preparedness while promoting risk-informed decision-making within the country’s evolving built environment.

Project and methods: W wywiadach z ekspertami zidentyfikowano 12 krytycznych czynników ryzyka pożarowego istotnych dla Sri Lanki. Opracowano listę kontrolną zawierającą 136 atrybutów w oparciu o lokalne przepisy przeciwpożarowe i normy brytyjskie w przypadku braku lokalnych regulacji. Dodatkowe 85 atrybutów dotyczyło luk w zarządzaniu bezpieczeństwem pożarowym i w zakresie konserwacji. Łącznie 221 atrybutów pogrupowano w pięć obszarów: drogi ewakuacyjne, środki zapobiegawcze dotyczące konstrukcji budynków, wykrywanie, ochrona i zarządzanie. Stworzono 54 listy kontrolne dla oficjalnych typów budynków. Każdemu atrybutowi przypisano Wskaźnik Względnej Ważności (RII) na podstawie 12 czynników i oceniono go za pomocą czterostopniowego systemu oceny zgodności

Methodology: Twelve critical fire risk factors relevant to Sri Lanka were identified through expert interviews. A checklist of 136 attributes was developed based on local fire regulations and British Standards, where local provisions were lacking. An additional 85 attributes addressed fire safety management and maintenance gaps. Altogether, 221 attributes were grouped into five domains: means of escape, structural fire precautions, detection, protection, and management. Fifty-four checklists were created for official building categories. Each attribute was assigned a Relative Importance Index (RII) derived from the twelve factors and evaluated through a four-tier compliance rating system

Results: The developed tool covers 54 building categories and 221 attributes weighted by the Relative Importance Index (RII) derived from twelve key fire risk factors. It assesses compliance across four tiers, integrating 136 safety and 85 management elements within a structured framework. The tool enables evidence-based fire safety evaluations, enhances regulatory compliance, and allows non-specialists to perform reliable assessments. Freely accessible and user-friendly, it promotes awareness, supports immediate action, and serves as an effective platform to improve understanding of fire regulations and safety requirements across all official building categories in Sri Lanka.

Conclusions: The tool enables non-specialists to conduct reliable fire risk assessments, enhancing compliance, awareness, and safety. Its structured framework supports hazard identification, risk evaluation, and corrective action. Future integration with real-time data and AI analytics will strengthen proactive fire risk management and protection of lives and property.

Keywords: fire risk assessment, fire risk assessment methods, checklist methods, risk factors weightage and ranking, building fire safety

Type of article: original scientific article

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