BETHESDA, Md. -- When it comes to features in public buildings, security is a top concern, a recent survey shows.
The nationwide survey -- conducted by the Society of Fire Protection Engineers -- posed three questions to 1,000 people.
"The findings are not surprising given the threat from crime and terrorism that we face today," said Chris Jelenewicz, engineering program manager at SFPE. "However, Americans should recognize that thousands of people die each year in fires, and fire safety features are critical to protect people and property."
He added that the responses did not surprise him as similar findings were reported after a study in 2006.
The results of this survey revealed 28 percent of Americans feel security is the most important feature, while 12 percent of respondents indicated that fire safety is the most important aspect of a building's design. Americans also ranked comfort and amenities higher than fire safety.
Jelenewicz said the results are interesting. "It's a way to get the public's pulse on how they feel about fire."
The SFPE usually conducts an annual survey, and keeps the questions simple. The answers often show a pattern in behavior, he said.
During a previous questionnaire, the majority of respondents said if a fire occurred in their homes, they would try to retrieve belongings or fight the blaze before leaving.
Although the majority of fires occur in homes, people say they feel safer there than in public buildings.
The most recent survey also revealed that when compared to natural disasters, 45 percent believe fire is the event that will most likely cause harm to them or their family. Included in this list were lighting strikes (18%), hurricanes (15%), earthquakes (12%) and floods (10%).
These findings support statistics that show people are more likely to be harmed by fire when compared to natural disasters. Although natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes are covered widely in the national news media, many more people die each year as a result of fire.
Another noteworthy finding reveals that over 58 percent of those surveyed worry about the dangers of fire less than once a year. At the same time, wealthy Americans think about the risk of fire less frequently than those with lower incomes.
"As a nation, we face widespread misconceptions about fire safety, and that's worrisome. That is why it is important that fire protection engineers devote their careers to protecting people and property from fire."
The survey polled more than one thousand American adults. The findings have a margin of error of plus or minus three percent.
"Throughout history, the desire for increased building security has contributed to countless deadly building fires. The most notable fire occurred at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City in 1911, where locked exit doors contributed to 146 fatalities. Although the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire occurred almost 100 years ago, the threat can still exist today if security is not balanced with fire protection."
The questions posed included:
How frequently do you worry that you or someone in your family will be harmed by fire? (Select one.)
Every day
Weekly
Once or twice a month
Once or twice a year
Less than once a year
Which one of the following events do you believe is most likely to cause harm to you or your family? (Select one.)
Earthquake
Fire
Flood
Hurricane
Lightning Strike
Thinking about the buildings you work and do business in, please select the feature that is most important to you. (Select one.)
Attractive design
ADA accessibility (handicap accessibility)
Fire safety
Environmentally friendly
Amenities (like parking)
Security
Temperature or Comfort
To review results of previous surveys: Click Here
