What is meant by a building's fire load?

The term "fire load" refers specifically to the total amount of combustible material present in a building. Understanding fire load is crucial for assessing fire risk and planning for fire safety measures. A higher fire load indicates that there is more material that can ignite and burn, which can lead to more intense and hazardous fires. This concept helps firefighters and safety professionals determine the potential fire behavior and the resources needed in case of an emergency.

The fire load encompasses everything from furniture and decorations to structural materials and stored goods, impacting both the total heat release during a fire and the duration of the fire's intensity. Therefore, knowing the fire load is essential for effective building design, prevention strategies, and response planning in fire situations.