Overview
ISO/TS 17755-2:2020 is an internationally recognized technical specification developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). It is titled Fire safety - Statistical data collection - Part 2: Vocabulary and is part of the ISO 17755 series aimed at improving the collection and analysis of fire statistics. This part specifically focuses on harmonizing terminology used in fire statistical data, which is crucial for achieving consistency and comparability across different regions and jurisdictions.
Data collection in fire safety is vital for multiple reasons, including the assessment of safety regulations, support for fire risk analysis, and enabling effective fire safety engineering. However, the lack of standardized terms has made comparing national and local fire data challenging. ISO/TS 17755-2:2020 provides a comprehensive vocabulary to address this gap, supplementing the broader fire safety vocabulary in ISO 13943, and serves as the primary terminology guide for fire statistical data collection.
Key Topics
ISO/TS 17755-2:2020 covers an extensive range of terms and definitions tailored to fire statistics. These terms are categorized to address all critical aspects of fire data collection, including:
- Types and Causes of Fires: Definitions like "arson," "accidental fire," "building fire," "vegetation fire," and "deliberate fire" help classify and understand fire incidents.
- Casualty Terminology: Terms such as "fire casualty," "fatal fire," "serious injury," "minor injury," and "status of a victim" enable precise reporting and comparison of fire-related injuries and fatalities.
- Fire Event Dynamics: Concepts like "alarm," "response time," "area of origin," "point of origin," "extent of fire propagation," "flashover," and "knocked down fire" provide a standardized way to describe the progression and management of fire incidents.
- Building and Contextual Attributes: Detailed definitions for "building," "building status," "year of construction," "means of egress," and "façade fire" ensure clarity about the environment in which fire incidents occur.
- Losses and Damages: Clear terms for "direct property damages," "indirect losses," "property damages," and "damages" improve economic impact assessments.
- Related Human Factors: Vocabulary such as "age group of victims," "ethnicity," "evacuation," and "victim characteristics" allows for the collection of demographic and behavioral data.
By standardizing these terms, the document addresses discrepancies in definitions that exist across different countries and institutions.
Applications
The harmonized vocabulary in ISO/TS 17755-2:2020 is intended for use by a wide range of stakeholders in the fire safety field:
- National and Local Fire Authorities: Enables standardized reporting and statistical analysis for better decision-making, policy assessment, and resource allocation.
- Fire Investigators and Engineers: Facilitates clearer communication and documentation during investigations and the design of fire safety strategies, scenarios, and risk analyses.
- Insurance and Risk Analysts: Provides a common language for evaluating fire risks and losses, improving the reliability of insurance assessments and claims.
- Researchers and Statisticians: Simplifies data aggregation and comparison at local, national, and international levels, supporting the development of evidence-based fire safety policies.
- Standards Developers: Assists in creating new technical standards and guidelines that rely on unified terminology.
Ultimately, adoption of ISO/TS 17755-2:2020 enhances the interoperability and comparability of fire statistics worldwide, contributing to improved fire safety outcomes and regulatory effectiveness.
Related Standards
For comprehensive understanding and utilization, ISO/TS 17755-2:2020 can be used alongside the following standards:
- ISO 13943: Fire safety - Vocabulary. Provides a broader set of foundational terms for fire safety.
- ISO/TR 17755: Fire safety - Overview of national fire statistics practices. Offers context on national-level data collection approaches.
- ISO/TS 19677: Guidelines for assessing the adverse impact of wildland fires on the environment and to people through environmental exposure.
Implementing ISO/TS 17755-2:2020 in conjunction with these standards supports consistent fire data collection and analysis, leading to more effective fire prevention and mitigation strategies.