Fire Safety Monitor 2018 in Belgium
At the end of 2018, ANPI (the National Association for Fire and Theft Prevention) and the FPS Interior organised a biennial online survey of 2143 Belgians.
The aim? To obtain an overview of the position of Belgians with regard to fire safety, the degree of awareness of the risks in their own homes, and the behaviour they adopt with regard to these risks.
The figures reveal some worrying points.
The average Belgian is not very concerned about fire safety in his or her home: barely one in four people! and only three in five Belgians are prepared to invest in fire safety.
- 1 in 4 Belgians still do not think about fire safety.
- The number of smoke detectors remains stable (or is decreasing).
- 4 out of 10 Belgians do not maintain their smoke detector.
- The number of victims of domestic fires remains the same. This concerns more men than women, and relatively old people.
From 2020, the installation of smoke detectors will be compulsory in all homes in Flanders and Wallonia, and in all rental properties in Brussels. However, at present, only seven out of ten Belgians have installed a smoke detector. Although this percentage remains more or less stable, the number of smoke detectors in Brussels is falling.
At the same time, at least 54 people lost their lives as a result of domestic fires in 2018.
Public sensitivity - 1 in 4 Belgians still don't think about fire safety!
To the question "Do you sometimes think about the risk of fire in your home?" 25% answer "Never".
We must therefore note that, despite all the prevention campaigns and constant media attention for domestic fires, Belgians still seem to think that this kind of accident only happens to others, and that "there is therefore - literally - no danger in their homes".
On average, 4 out of 10 Belgians do not budget for fire safety.
However, it is possible to obtain sufficient protection with a modest budget. In an average home, you need to plan for about 5 smoke detectors. These cost about 25 euros each. With this one-off investment of 125 euros, the house is protected for a period of 10 years. This means that such protection costs 12.5 euros per year, or just over 1 euro per month!
Smoke detectors: The number of smoke detectors remains stable (or is decreasing)
About 7 out of 10 Belgians have installed at least one smoke detector in their home. This figure remained almost unchanged in 2018, despite differences between regions. For example, there are more smoke detectors in Wallonia (85%) than in Flanders (64%). In Brussels, the number of smoke detectors even decreased from 75% to 65%.
Only 253 people were surveyed, so the margin of error is relatively large (6%), but this is already a warning signal.
Since 2005, smoke detectors have been compulsory in every home in Wallonia and in rental properties in Brussels. In Flanders, the obligation to install smoke detectors is being introduced gradually.
By 2020, every home in Flanders must have smoke detectors.
It is striking that 1 in 5 Belgians who have not yet installed a smoke detector have at least one in their cupboard!
According to the survey, 13% of Belgians are not willing to install smoke detectors! They explain this refusal by the fact that it is not an obligation (!), because they rent (and it is the landlord who is obliged to install smoke detectors), or because it is not important or too expensive in their eyes.
In homes that do have smoke detectors, there are on average more than 2 (2.6 per home). In general, these are located in the hallway or stairwell, where they are mandatory.
We also find that one in five homes has 4 or more smoke detectors. The advice to install smoke detectors in living areas, storerooms and bedrooms, in addition to the mandatory ones, is well followed.
4 out of 10 Belgians do not maintain their smoke detectors and do nothing to keep their smoke detectors in good condition. However, it is necessary to dust them and test them once a month, for example.
In 7% of cases, the oldest smoke alarm was installed more than 10 years ago!
The lifetime of a smoke detector is about 10 years. After this period, the proper functioning of the detection mechanism is no longer guaranteed, and it must be completely replaced. The latest generation of smoke detectors for the home is currently available at an affordable price (some are already less than 25 euros). These new detectors have a non-removable battery that lasts for 10 years.
With proper maintenance and testing, you can rely on the detector for 10 years.
Victims: the number of victims of domestic fires remains stable
The installation of smoke detectors and the development of an evacuation plan allow occupants to leave their homes in time when a fire breaks out.
This aspect of prevention cannot be underestimated. In Belgium, on average, more than 5 people per million inhabitants still lose their lives in a fire.
The number of victims of domestic fires remains stable. In 2018, at least 54 people lost their lives:
- Flanders: 16 deaths - 2.4 victims/million inhabitants
Wallonia: 33 deaths - 9.1 victims/million inhabitants
Brussels region: 5 deaths - 4.2 victims/million inhabitants
Most of the victims died in Wallonia. This Region also has the highest number of victims per million inhabitants.
In 2018, 54 people died as a result of 48 fatal house fires, of which 33 men and 21 women. The number of men who lost their lives in a fatal domestic fire is significantly higher than the number of women.
The percentage of 65 year old victims among the victims of fatal domestic fires (52%) is higher than the percentage of 65 year olds in the total Belgian population (18%). Senior citizens are about 2.5 times more likely to die in a house fire. This rate is comparable to that of previous years.
Among the active population (18-65 years old), men are more likely to be victims of a fire than women (68%), whereas the male/female proportion among the Belgian population is almost equal.
Conclusions:
The average citizen is not yet fully convinced of the importance of installing sufficient smoke detectors (to be warned in time of a fire) and of preparing a good evacuation plan (to leave the house in time). They are also not fully aware of their responsibility to ensure their own safety in the event of a fire in their home (and often that of the people around them).
The Fire Prevention Directorate of the DG Security & Prevention of the FPS Interior has the task of making citizens aware of fire safety in their own environment and intends to improve this aspect in collaboration with the fire services by offering them appropriate materials, but also by drawing the attention of the general public to the subject of fire safety through the media.
ANPI supports all initiatives in this respect.
Source: www.besafe.be
