Articles and blogposts on fire safety

Catastrophic fires, those with exceptional costs or many casualties are increasing. What can be done about this? Researcher Johan Sjöström explains why fires in southern Europe are becoming increasingly severe and how common birch trees can help to reduce similar risks in Sweden.

Since the 1970s, Dafo Brand has partnered with RISE many times, as a natural part of developing tomorrow’s fire protection and rescue equipment. “With the support of RISE, our analyses carry more weight,” says Dafo’s Quality and Sustainability Manager, Josefin Holmström.

The idea of building hospitals out of wood arouses both curiosity and scepticism, but the Vinnova-funded project Health in Wood shows that there are great opportunities. In a groundbreaking collaboration between the timber construction and hospital construction sectors, experts have tested the limits of wood as a construction material in healthcare environments. The results challenge old ideas about how the hospitals of the future can be built.

How should the maritime transport industry manage the risks associated with electric or gas-powered vehicles? These issues are being discussed and investigated by participants in the RISE-led research project LASH FIRE. "We are now addressing the next level of risks," says Martin Carlsson at Stena Teknik.

RISE is now expanding its certification services in accordance with the standards of the Swedish Theft Prevention Association and the Swedish Fire Protection Association. This strengthens the opportunities for independent and quality-assured certification across the entire security market.

Electric vehicles and fire risk have been a hot topic in recent years. One thing is clear – more knowledge is needed in this area, and testing is an important part of filling the knowledge gap. In the explosion proof laboratory in Borås, Sweden, today's and tomorrow's batteries are put through their paces, both figuratively and literally.

When building with combustible materials such as wood, extra care must be taken in both design and construction to achieve robust fire protection, details must be properly executed and fire protection systems must work over time. Robust fire protection is an important component for increasing the use of wood in a sustainable society. Fire classification of construction products is important for fire safety but is not sufficient to achieve robust fire protection.

Interest in building with timber is growing and players in the construction industry are choosing to distinguish themselves by taking on the challenge of building really high with timber, up to and above 20 floors. The challenge drives development and advances timber construction. In a series of projects, RISE together with academia, building system suppliers, consultants and clients have studied the challenges, developed and described technical solutions for a number of them.

A unique opportunity to develop new electromobility products and services has opened up. In September 2023, three new test centers for electric vehicles and components were inaugurated within the initiative SEEL, Swedish Electric Transport Laboratory. The goal is clear: The testbed is to comprise one of the few open meeting places for collaboration and innovation in Europe. 

Minor deviations or quality deficiencies in products, services, processes or measuring instruments can cost enormous amounts in the form of money, reputation and lost business if not detected in time. RISE services can also create more business opportunities if you want to reach new markets. With unique breadth, strong reputation and advanced expertise and testing equipment, RISE is the natural partner for testing, inspection, certification and calibration.