A multiple criteria decision-making framework for evaluating oxygen reduction systems’ use

Warehouses and storages, data centers, server rooms, museums and heritage buildings, bank vaults, automatic parking systems are frequently mentioned applications of Oxygen Reduction Systems (ORSs) for fire prevention. These systems represent a relevant fire prevention technology and seem to be a recent application able to achieve fire safety objectives. ORSs keep the indoor oxygen concentration in a protected volume permanently below the ignition threshold to inhibit any combustion process of the different stored or present materials and substances. However, multidisciplinary analyses reveal a lack of consensus about technology advantages and some critical issues (e.g. Oxygen Deficiency Hazard). To the best of our knowledge, one of the main gaps about ORSs regards the absence of a complete assessment of all the criteria and elements that a decision-maker should consider for choosing this fire protection technology, also in comparison to others currently available. For this reason, the aim of this paper is to propose criteria relevant for evaluating ORSs’ application, organising them into a preliminary Multiple Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) framework. To achieve this aim, we conducted a review of available scientific literature, legislative acts, and technical standards on ORSs’ requirements published by European countries and/or International organisations. We collected information and details through interviews and contacts with ORSs’ manufacturers and potential users, and experts belonging to fire protection associations, insurance companies, and medical commissions. The developed MCDM framework may provide support to health and safety managers for assessing if an ORS should be the appropriate and effective solution for their own specific needs.