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SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article

Front. Built Environ.
Sec. Fire Resistant Engineering
Volume 10 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fbuil.2024.1495594

Analysis and Mitigation of Fire and Explosion Hazards in Hospital Environments from a Biomedical Engineering Perspective

Provisionally accepted
Augusto Jorge Antonio Ibáñez-Cruz Augusto Jorge Antonio Ibáñez-Cruz 1,2*Alejandra Micaela Elena Vergara - Florián Alejandra Micaela Elena Vergara - Florián 1Dante Espinoza-Morriberon Dante Espinoza-Morriberon 1William Celestino Algoner Jorge William Celestino Algoner Jorge 1
  • 1 Technological University of Peru, Lima, Peru
  • 2 Institute of Biomedical Science, Londres, United Kingdom

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background: Hospitals are complex and dynamic facilities that house vulnerable people, medical equipment, and hazardous materials, making them susceptible to fires and explosions with potentially catastrophic effects. This study aims to understand and address fire and explosion risks in hospital environments using biomedical engineering, safety, and fire prevention concepts to develop effective mitigation strategies.The study employed a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative techniques. Data from an insurance and reinsurance company in Peru were analyzed, and surveys, data analysis, and interviews were conducted. The PRISMA methodology was also applied to conduct a thorough literature review.The results revealed the most frequent risk factors in hospital settings and the most effective mitigation strategies. Implementing these strategies resulted in a considerable decrease in fires and explosions. Discussion: The research comprehensively explains hospital fire and explosion risks and proposes evidence-based strategies to improve safety. These results underscore the relevance of biomedical engineering in managing risks in hospital settings. Despite limitations, the study provides a firm foundation for future research to improve hospital safety.

    Keywords: Fire hazards, Explosions, Hospital environments, Biomedical Engineering, Risk mitigation, hospital safety

    Received: 23 Oct 2024; Accepted: 26 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Ibáñez-Cruz, Vergara - Florián, Espinoza-Morriberon and Algoner Jorge. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Augusto Jorge Antonio Ibáñez-Cruz, Technological University of Peru, Lima, Peru

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.