Due to the thermal modernization process of old residential buildings, there has been a significant increase in the air-tightness of apartments, which may contribute to the deterioration of the safety of users and rescue teams in a fire, for example, the emergence of a very dangerous backdraft phenomenon. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of air-tightness of premises on selected fire parameters in particular toxic gas concentrations, which is the most common cause of deaths of people due to fires. In the research, an experimental method was used, consisting of the measurement of concentrations of gases such as oxygen, carbon monoxide and dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, propylene, acetylene, hydrogen and nitric oxide, and dioxide, which most often give off during a fire due to modern interior design materials. Two fire tests were carried out, one in a sealed apartment and the other unsealed (one window wing half-open). The concentrations of the previously mentioned gases obtained in both tests are presented and then compared with each other. Based on the analysis, conclusions have been formulated, which suggest that increasing the tightness may increase the toxicity of the fire environment.

Along with the thermal modernization process of old residential buildings, there has been a significant increase in the air tightness of apartments, which may contribute to the deterioration of the safety of users and rescue teams in a fire. The main goal of this study was to investigate the impact of the air tightness of an apartment on fire growth and temperature variability. In the work, an experimental method was applied. Two full-scale fire tests were carried out, one in a sealed apartment and the other in unsealed one. The temperature was measured by thirty-two thermocouples. Two thermal imaging and video cameras were also used to evaluate a temperature field as well as flame and smoke height. Based on the analysis, conclusions have been formulated. It is noteworthy that the highest temperatures and significant increase in pressure were obtained in a sealed apartment, but dangerous and critical conditions regarding firefighters’ safety were achieved faster and persisted much longer in an unsealed one.

Scientific studies of firefighter exposure to toxic products of thermal decomposition and combustion have resulted in the classification of this profession as causing cancer. In view of this, the priority of the activities of the formation of the State Fire Service (SFS) becomes protection from direct, but also secondary contact with these products. It is noted that protective clothing without cyclic and regular cleaning will not be able to perform its primary function due to the penetration of toxins into the material. Consequently, instead of protecting against contaminants, it will lead to contact with them. Based on these facts, special attention began to be paid to educating and raising awareness among firefighters on the proper use, cleaning and maintenance of PPE and personal equipment. It has become a requirement to separate clean and dirty areas in fire stations to ensure the preparation of this clothing and equipment for reuse. These recommendations are aimed at reducing firefighters’ secondary exposure to post-fire products. The article presents the results of a survey study on the analysis and evaluation of the organization of activities and adopted practices in the fire and rescue units of the SFS in terms of minimizing the secondary exposure of firefighters to toxic products of thermal decomposition and combustion carried out in Poland on a group of 622 professional firefighters. The results indicate the validity of the chosen direction of change, while also presenting situations and challenges that firefighters continue to face at their places of duty.

In the process of vocational training, firefighters undergo a series of refresher exercises and tests(examinations) to verify their resilience to factors that may be encountered during actual rescueoperations. One such training is smoke chamber exercises and tests, which examine firefighters’resilience to psychophysical stresses in conditions close to real life. Orientation, the ability tomove in smoke-logged conditions and in confined spaces are all tested during improvementdrills. This article presents the results of a study aiming to establish the safety level of firefightersduring exercises and tests in a smoke chamber, based on selected criteria, which comprised thenumber of firefighters on the training path, the length of the training path, the capacity of thecompressed air cylinders, the change in heart rate while traversing the training path, the BMIindex, the knowledge of operating respiratory protection equipment (RPE), the physical workload,the rate of air consumption while traversing the training path and the cognitive abilities of the testparticipants. This paper examines legal considerations and occupational risks for firefighters duringsmoke chamber exercises and tests. Identified organisational factors and individual behavioursaffecting the safety of trainees and techniques of risk-reducing measures are presented, as well asfirefighters’ own safety assessment criteria. Also presented are the results of experimental, surveyand psychometric studies. The research comprised a group of 50 firefighters, both professional andvolunteer, including 46 men and four women. The results of the research work showed that theeffect of short-term exposure to a psychophysical load generated by smoke chamber conditionshas a significant impact on cognitive abilities. It was shown how organisational factors and theindividual behaviour of each firefighter affect their safety during smoke chamber exercises andtests, and solutions were proposed to improve this safety.

Wybrane aspekty działań gaśniczych Monografia pokonferencyjna: Innowacyjne podejście do pożarnictwa – X-lecie Koła Naukowego Działań Gaśniczych Akademii Pożarniczej w dniu 27 czerwca 2025 r. red. nauk. Robert Piec, Marcin Łapicz, Jacek Kalinko ISBN: 978-83-978559-4-6 DOI: 10.70402/apoz.2026.kndg.9788397855946 Warszawa 2026 Minione dziesięciolecie działalności Koła Naukowego Działań Gaśniczych Akademii Pożarniczej (dawniej Szkoły Głównej Służby Pożarniczej) to okres intensywnego