House-Refuge
Development of better practices and rules for constructions and surroundings in areas prone to wildland-urban interface fires
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Project code
PCIF/AGT/0109/2018 -
Approval date
10/10/2019 -
Start date
15/01/2020 -
Conclusion date
14/01/2023 -
Promotor
ADAI -
Copromotors
AVIPG Itecons Universidade de Coimbra -
Intervention region
Região Centro -
Total eligible amount
296.717,50 € -
National/regional public financial support
Orçamento de Estado - 296.717,50 € -
Funding
MAIN OBJECTIVE
The “House-Refuge” Project intends to create guidelines for best practices in the construction. Aiming at the mitigation of the wildfire risk combining two components of the system – construction and the immediate surrounding area.
SCOPE
The large wildfires that have been occurring in Portugal show the need for the population to adopt self-protection measures, since in catastrophic scenarios the civil protection agencies may not be able to deal with all distress situations.
It is irrefutable that the likelihood of a wildfire reaching an infrastructure is drastically reduced through the implementation of good construction practices and proper fuel management practices in the environment. However, the knowledge on these matters is not well consolidated, and the legal and normative requirements are not always correctly suited to respond to real situations.
In the House-Refuge project, we propose to develop scientific knowledge that allows the general population, professionals in the civil construction and outdoor areas, the legislator and politicians, among other potential users, to decide on the best construction practices and fuel management policies in the construction surroundings, aiming at the mitigation of the impacts of wildfires on infrastructures.
The “House-Refuge” concept, the ultimate purpose of this project, is an infrastructure with a low risk of wildfire, allowing people to confidently take refuge inside during a wildfire event.