Journal of Civil Protection

Chemical strategies for fireproofing porous flammable materials: advances, applications, and environmental considerations

Anh T. Le — 2025-11-25

Purpose. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the chemical strategies used for fireproofing porous flammable materials. It aims to synthesize recent advances, outline key mechanisms of action, and evaluate the environmental and health implications of different flame retardant classes. The work addresses the urgent need for balancing fire safety with sustainability and regulatory compliance.

Methods. A systematic review of peer‑reviewed research, standards, and technical reports from 2018 to 2024 was conducted. Data sources included scientific journals, regulatory documents, and industry guidelines. The analysis covered halogenated and halogen‑free flame retardants, nanostructured systems, bio‑based chemicals, and hybrid approaches. Special focus was given to studies employing advanced characterization techniques, cone calorimetry, thermal analysis, and life cycle assessment.

Findings. Halogenated flame retardants remain effective but are increasingly restricted due to toxicity and environmental persistence. Halogen‑free alternatives, such as ammonium polyphosphate, aluminum diethyl phosphinate, DOPO derivatives, and bio‑based systems, show promising performance, especially when combined with nanomaterials or reactive chemistries to enhance stability. Innovative solutions, including metal-organic frameworks, graphene derivatives, and phytic acid‑based coatings, are emerging for improved efficacy and lower ecological footprint. However, scalability, cost, and long‑term durability remain challenges. The porosity of materials introduces specific issues such as leaching and off‑gassing, necessitating careful selection and application methods. Regulatory frameworks like REACH and the Stockholm Convention play a decisive role in guiding safer chemical adoption.

Application field of research. Developing safer and more sustainable fire protection strategies in the age of advanced materials and growing ecological awareness.

Fires involving electric vehicles in the Republic of Belarus: statistical analysis, development features and extinguishing methods

Aleksandr V. Pivovarov — 2025-11-25

Purpose. To conduct a comprehensive analysis of fires involving battery electric vehicles (BEV) in the Republic of Belarus during the period 2021–2025, as well as to assess their development features and firefighting methods.

Methods. Statistical analysis of data on the electric vehicle (EV) fleet for the period 2022–2024 and on fires involving BEVs for 2021–2025, including preliminary data for 2025; comparative analysis of the effectiveness of existing methods for extinguishing high-voltage lithium-ion traction battery packs (traction batteries).

Findings. An exponential growth of the EV fleet in the Republic of Belarus was identified for the period 2022–2024. The dominant causes of fires were determined, the key one being thermal runaway in lithium-ion traction batteries, mainly triggered by short circuits resulting from mechanical damage or manufacturing defects. The low efficiency of extinguishing (cooling) traction batteries with conventional fire hoses was established. The necessity of applying specialized tactics and technical means for extinguishing traction batteries was revealed, such as piercing nozzles, high-voltage containers, fire blankets, and others.

Application field of research. The results of the study are intended for the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus, EV manufacturers, insurance companies, as well as for the development of regulatory legal acts in the field of EV fire safety.

Increasing fire safety and fire extinguishing efficiency of an aerosol generator with a modified design

Pavel V. Maksimov — 2025-11-25

Purpose. Improving fire safety during operation of a fire-extinguishing aerosol generator (FEAG), which consists of reducing the temperature of the output flow of fire-extinguishing aerosol (FEA) to values that eliminate spontaneous combustion and melting of substances and materials in the protected area, achieved by a structural method of gas-dynamic cooling.

Methods. Literature analysis; comparison of existing results of experimental and theoretical studies on reducing the outlet temperature of the fire extinguishing mixture flow of aerosol generators; comparison of an experimental sample and a serially produced generator during laboratory studies of the temperature fields of the aerosol flow and generator housings and during fire tests.

Findings. A new design method for gas-dynamic cooling of a fire-extinguishing aerosol at the outlet of a FEAG has been developed. This method consists of modifying its design with a profiling insert, made according to the type of an annular Laval nozzle with a cylindrical central body, and ensures effective extinguishing of model fires. Based on a serially produced generator, an experimental model of the FEAG, modified with the specified design gas-dynamic cooler, was manufactured, fire tests of which confirmed a decrease in the temperature of the FEA flow at the exit from the generator by 70–75 % in comparison with the serially produced generator. The time to extinguish a flame fire in a protected area during fire tests was reduced by 2 times.

Application field of research. The FEAG, modified with a gas-dynamic cooler in the form of a profiling insert, made in the style of a Laval annular nozzle with a cylindrical central body, can be effectively used as an operational means of extinguishing non-smoldering substances and materials.

The use of waterjet cutting in emergency response

Dmitriy V. Vasilevich — 2025-11-25

Purpose. Study of the main parameters of the waterjet cutting process that affect its efficiency.

Methods. The work uses empirical research methods (determination of the sizes and characteristic shapes of abrasive material particles), a method of theoretical analysis of literary sources in determining the main parameters of the waterjet cutting process that affect its efficiency.

Findings. Conceptual approaches to improving the efficiency of waterjet cutting by varying process parameters (water pressure, nozzle diameter, thickness and nature of the workpiece, density, hardness, fraction, and flow rate of the abrasive material) are identified. An analysis of the types and parameters of abrasive material used in waterjet cutting is conducted.

Application field of research. The obtained results can be used to improve the efficiency of waterjet cutting (for fire extinguishing and industrial applications) and sandblasting systems.

Analytical review of research on the main protective properties of personal head protective equipment

Yuriy S. Ivanov — 2025-11-25

Purpose. Justification of the level of protective properties and design of the domestic firefighter-rescuer helmet.

Methods. Methods of theoretical knowledge: analysis, synthesis, induction and generalization.

Findings. An analysis of studies examining the fundamental protective properties of personal protective equipment (PPE) for the head has identified the main hazards associated with head injuries, their critical values, and the factors influencing the strength properties and design of helmet shells. Promising research methods in the design and development of PPE for the head have been identified.

Application field of research. Development of modern domestic PPE.

Prioritization of measures to reduce the risks of man-made emergencies taking into account the contribution of scenarios to overall uncertainty

Romina M. Kretsu — 2025-11-25

Purpose. Development of a quantitative measure of the contribution of emergency scenarios to the overall uncertainty of the risk of man-made emergencies at fuel and energy facilities, based on the entropy of the system, the informational significance of individual scenarios and the degree of effectiveness of protective measures. This will allow for the consideration of low-probability but high-informational scenarios and ensure a rational choice of measures within a limited budget.

Methods. The primary method utilizes an information-entropy approach, allowing for a quantitative assessment of the contribution of each emergency scenario to the overall uncertainty of the system. An optimization model for selecting protective measures is constructed, taking into account their effectiveness, cost, and the informational significance of the scenarios. A numerical experiment is conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed approach under conditions of limited budgets and multiple risks.

Findings. The study's results demonstrated that using the informational significance of scenarios enables the development of more effective resource allocation strategies. The proposed model reduces residual risk at a lower cost compared to classical approaches. A numerical experiment confirmed the method's applicability for the informed selection of protective measures under conditions of high uncertainty and limited budgets for preventing man-made emergencies.

Application field of research. The developed model can be applied to risk management systems at industrial and infrastructure facilities exposed to man-made emergencies. The approach is relevant for designing civil defense action plans, justifying safety investments, and developing digital decision support platforms in resource-constrained environments with high uncertainty.

Methodology for managing the risks of situations leading to negative environmental impacts during gas production

Nika M. Amshinov — 2025-11-25

Purpose. Presentation of the developed methodology for managing the risks of emergency situations leading to negative environmental impacts during gas production, which allows for the selection of an effective set of measures to eliminate or reduce these risks.

Methods. The development of the presented methodology is based on the set-theoretical approach.

Findings. The stages of the developed methodology for managing the risks of emergency situations leading to negative environmental impacts during gas production are presented: construction of an acceptable risk curve; identification of significant environmental risks requiring immediate elimination; determination of effective management measures that can reduce risks to acceptable levels by «breaking» the most dangerous chains of emergency situations.

Application field of research. The application of the described methodology for reducing environmental risks during gas production will effectively reduce the company's risk level and mitigate the risks of emergency situations leading to negative environmental impacts during the operation of gas production wells.

Spreading of water droplets and aqueous polymer solutions on a solid horizontal surface

Valentin I. Baykov — 2025-11-25

Purpose. To experimentally investigate and compare with theoretical calculations the kinetics of spreading of a drop of an aqueous solution of a polymer and boiled tap water on a horizontal solid surface.

Methods. Experimental studies.

Findings. The following were found experimentally: the coefficient of surface tension of a liquid drop at the boundary with air; viscosity at low shear rates of the liquid and its density; equilibrium contact angle. It was also established that there is a limited spreading of the droplet up to a radius that corresponds to the equilibrium contact angle. A comparison of theoretical and experimental data on the change in the droplet spreading radius over time was carried out, which showed that the results are in qualitative agreement with each other.

Application field of research. The obtained results are important for studying the dynamics of the process of extinguishing fires of solid materials with aqueous solutions of polyacrylamide of different concentrations.

Analysis of the probability of windfall occurrence on the territory of the Republic of Belarus

Dmitriy V. Rebko — 2025-11-25

Purpose. Systems analysis and development of an integrated approach to assessing the likelihood of windfalls to support management decision-making in the field of emergency prevention.

Methods. The study is based on the method of systems analysis to structure the multifactorial nature of the probability of windfall occurrence. Fuzzy logic (the Mamdani model) was used for the integrated assessment, allowing for processing of linguistic variables. A Python software module was developed that utilizes computer vision and machine learning methods to recognize tree species and determine their biometric parameters from photographs.

Findings. Three groups of factors influencing the probability of windfalls have been identified and classified: climatic (speed and frequency of wind gusts, precipitation), geographical (terrain exposure, soil type, position in the massif) and forest vegetation (stability of the species, height and diameter of trees). Term sets were developed for each group. A fuzzy logic model was proposed that integrates these factors into a single probability estimate. A software prototype with a graphical interface has been created that automatically extracts forest vegetation parameters from images and calculates the probability of windfalls.

Application field of research. The results have practical significance for the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus. The methodology and software module can be used to forecast storm impacts, plan preventive measures, and create probability maps of windfalls occurrence. Integration with monitoring systems will enable the creation of an effective early warning system and minimization of damage from windfalls.

Forecasting emergency situations at technical reservoirs

Dmitry S. Mikanovich — 2025-11-25

Purpose. To analyze statistical data on emergency situations at hydraulic structures, assess their main causes and consequences, and formulate the topics for future research in the field of forecasting and preventing emergency situations at hydraulic structures.

Methods. Theoretical analysis.

Findings. An analysis of emergency situations at hydraulic structures of technical reservoirs has been carried out, previously conducted research in the field of accident prevention on enclosing structures of technical reservoirs has been studied, the field of scientific interests has been identified in terms of further research in the field of emergency prevention and assessment of stability of enclosing structures of technical reservoirs, and the development of a system of compensating measures to prevent emergencies at structures of this type.

Application field of research. The analysis of accidents at hydraulic structures of technical reservoirs will lay the foundation for future research in order to develop a set of compensatory measures to prevent emergencies at technical reservoirs, «stop» accidents at the initial stages, and reduce the consequences of such situations.

Statement of the problem of substantiating a rational option for staffing territorial divisions of state fire supervision of the EMERCOM of Russia with personnel

Maria A. Kuznetsova — 2025-11-25

Purpose. Description of the problem of stating and methodological approach to substantiation of a rational option for staffing territorial divisions (TD) of state fire supervision (SFS), the implementation of which will increase the level of readiness of the latter to perform tasks in accordance with their intended purpose.

Methods. The article uses the methods of systems analysis, empirical methods, and methods of multivariate statistical analysis.

Findings. Based on the analysis of fire statistics and their consequences, performance indicators of TD SFS, a problem situation was identified consisting in a decrease in the level of staffing and, accordingly, an increase in the workload of SFS employees, which hinders the performance of tasks in accordance with their intended purpose. A contradiction in the subject area under consideration is formulated, a direction for resolving the problem situation is proposed in terms of substantiating a rational option for staffing TD SFS. The problem statement is presented, a methodological approach to its solution is proposed, which can be implemented on the basis of a sequential solution of three specific problems.

Application field of research. Obtaining a rational option for staffing the TD SFS based on the proposed stating the problem and methodological approach will help eliminate the personnel shortage in the TD SFS of the EMERCOM of Russia.