In recent years, high-profile fire incidents have led to increased scrutiny of the fire safety of our buildings, and thus many countries have strengthened their requirements for fire properties of building materials. Over 3.7 million fires occur in cities worldwide every year and more than 43,000 lives are lost as a result. This, combined with the fact that fires today develop more than six times faster than in the 1950s, means there are good reasons for looking at improving fire safety requirements.
