The Hidden Vulnerability: Fire Risk in Cultural Heritage Storage Facilities
On October 1, 2025, a devastating fire broke out at the main warehouse of Amar Chitra Katha (ACK) in Bhiwandi,...
Insights
This category includes in-depth posts on new topics or problems that are still open
Attacks on Worship Sites: the Need for Specific Fire Design Scenarios
Attacks on churches, mosques, synagogues and other places of worship have become a worrying global trend, and they increasingly strike...
Christmas Markets under Pressure: from Terror Plots to “Ordinary” Disasters
Across Europe, Christmas markets are more than seasonal shopping events. They are recurring public rituals that each year re‑occupy historic...
Why Cost–benefit Analysis matters for Historic Buildings
When deciding how to protect a historic building, it is not enough to ask “Is this measure technically effective?” The...
Rebuilding a Canadian Heritage Village with Fire-Resilient Principles
On June 30, 2021, during a record-breaking heat dome, the Village of Lytton, British Columbia (Canada) — home to about...
Backdraft at Historic Hotel Fire in Escanaba (USA)
A 161-year-old landmark hotel, a complex multi-occupancy historic structure, a ventilation-controlled fire in a concealed ceiling space, and a near‑fatal...
What is Cost-Benefit Analysis for Cultural Heritage?
If you're managing a historic building or cultural site, you face tough decisions about where to spend limited money—especially on...
Cybersecurity in Heritage Buildings: Key Gaps, Vulnerabilities & Practical Mitigation
As museums and historic sites adopt IoT-connected smart technologies for fire safety, environmental monitoring, and building automation, new cyber risks...
How Smart Technologies Improve Historic Buildings Safety
Preserving historic buildings means safeguarding not just architectural masterpieces—but the collective memory and cultural identity of communities. Today, smart technologies...
What if Smart Technologies had been implemented at the National Museum of Brazil or Notre Dame?
The catastrophic fires at the National Museum of Brazil (2018) and Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris (2019) resulted in irreversible losses—millions...
Micro-Mobility in Heritage Spaces: Managing Fire Risks Thoughtfully
As cities embrace e-bikes and e-scooters to promote sustainable urban mobility, heritage institutions—from historic cathedrals to museums—face a growing but...
Why Historic Buildings require dedicated Fire Studies
In a 2024 post titled “Why the Notre Dame Fire Improved Historic Buildings Safety”, this website examines the significance of...
Protecting Intangible Heritage from Fire Risk
A paradoxical aspect of cultural heritage safety is the protection from fire of intangible heritage that, as intangible, should be...
The Notre-Dame de Paris Fire Investigations
Six years after the Notre-Dame de Paris fire, official investigations and published sources converge on certain results and primary hypotheses...
Challenges and Solutions for Emergency Egress Simulation in Historic Buildings
Assessing fire safety in historic buildings requires a careful examination of occupant evacuation procedures, with a particular focus on the...
The Growing Threat of Arson Against Historic Places of Worship
Across continents and denominations, houses of worship (many of which are listed or historic buildings) are increasingly being targeted by...
The Mental Health Impact of Heritage Damage. The Rapa Nui Case
People dedicated to safeguarding cultural heritage often focuses on the physical preservation of sites and objects, but research is demonstrating...
Arson Threatens Historic Buildings across the UK: the Link to Dereliction
In recent times, there has been substantial media attention on the fate of derelict or abandoned historic buildings. A particularly...
Protecting Historic Buildings from Wildfires – Interventions on facades and roofs
Historic buildings can be exposed to risk by wildfires like any other building. In their case, though, vulnerability assessment should...
Vineyards: The last Barrier against Fire
The preservation of both tangible and intangible cultural heritage is a well-known concern, as everything is directly recognised as Culture....
Protecting World Heritage Sites: Safety Challenges Under Climate Stress
Climate change poses an escalating threat to UNESCO World Heritage sites worldwide, with 80% of cultural heritage sites already experiencing...
Why Care Fire Risk to Non Structural Historic Elements
Globally, historic buildings are often defined not only by their structural components but also by the non-structural elements that adorn...
