3. Definitions and Harmonized Terminology

The experience of the Geneva Association, in particular , highlights comparability biases stemming from differences in definitions (fire, death, scope of coverage) and the need for explicit adjustments. This heterogeneity justifies the adoption of harmonized terminology and a core set of common variables to ensure the reliability of international comparisons and longitudinal monitoring.

The ISO/TS 17755-2 standard proposes a unified terminology for the collection of fire statistics. The European EU FireStat project proposed a minimum set of variables to be...