Date

2022-6-24

Author

Uluç Keçik, Aynur

Metadata

Show full item record

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Item Usage Stats

208
views

54
downloads

Cite This

Fire incidents threaten cultural heritage and lead to irreversible damages. Loss of life, destruction of buildings, and traditional urban tissues are possible consequences of a fire. Major causes of fires at cultural heritage buildings include deficiencies in electrical installations, electrical appliances used during restoration works, unmaintained chimneys, and fire safety negligence. Historic urban tissues in Turkey are highly vulnerable to fires because of using timber as a building material, lack of maintenance, state of condition of buildings, and difficulties accessing narrow streets in emergencies. Fires are often preventable if measures are undertaken in all decision-making processes. The existence and implementation of fire risk management policies based on international and national policies are critical to preventing fires through practical actions. However, studies on fire vulnerability assessment for heritage places on an urban scale are limited in numbers and have deficiencies concerning time requirements and financial aspects. In this respect, this thesis aims to propose a preliminary fire vulnerability assessment method for heritage places on an urban scale. It has three potential contributions to related literature. It defines fire vulnerability assessment indicators, a simplified method, and policies. In addition, it aims to contribute to UNESCO World Heritage Site management processes by providing a fire vulnerability assessment approach, methodology, and procedures. Fire vulnerability of heritage places is related to different factors at building and neighborhood scales. In this study, four categories of factors are classified: (i) The existence of ignition sources, (ii) The existence of flammable materials, (iii) the Fire Combat within the building scale, and (iv) the Fire Combat within the Neighborhood scale. In this sense, a fire vulnerability assessment for the City of Safranbolu World Heritage Site is conducted. Site surveys were done at different times, and interviews with diverse local stakeholders were conducted for data collection. Analysis using geographical information systems revealed that 59 % of traditional buildings have a medium, high, and very high level of fire vulnerability in the Çeşme Neighborhood. This study suggested a policy framework for fire risk management of cultural heritage. Namely, fire risk management of cultural heritage should be considered in different planning scales such as regional, urban, and building. Participatory processes, including different actors, sufficient technical capacity, and a national fire incidents database are required. In conclusion, the new policy-making process for cultural heritage fire vulnerability assessment can be adapted for current Turkish decision-making mechanisms and other heritage places exposed to fire risk.

Subject Keywords

Fire Vulnerability Assessment, the City of Safranbolu UNESCO World Heritage Site, Fire Risk Management Policies

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/98601

Collections

Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Thesis