Heritage Conservation

Masterpieces, no doubt; places that we must transmit as they have been transmitted to us; but something more than beauty, which is precisely the soul of this great dream.

André Malraux, 1967.

Fire protection in modern structures focuses on preserving life by ensuring safe occupant egress and enabling secure firefighter intervention. Consequently, fire safety is integrated into building design from the outset, using a strategic arrangement of materials, geometries, and appliances. However, protecting historic buildings presents unique challenges. First, these structures—and the artifacts they house—often hold invaluable cultural, historical, or religious significance. Preserving such irreplaceable items can compromise occupant safety or pose unreasonable risks to firefighters. Second, fire codes typically fail to address the specific materials and architectural features of historic buildings, many of which predate modern safety standards. These unique characteristics can significantly influence fire behavior and smoke migration, making conventional fire safety solutions incomplete or even unsuitable.

To address these challenges, we develop advanced numerical simulation tools to analyze how historic stone-timber structures respond to fire. Our work provides critical insights to guide specialists in formulating effective fire strategies. By leveraging scientific understanding, we aim to support curators, fire engineers, and firefighters in creating tailored fire protection plans that meet the specific needs of each heritage site.