A decision-making framework for fire safety in engineered timber buildings: an IVIF-SWARA-based assessment

Abstract Timber structures have gained increasing popularity due to their environmental benefits and structural efficiency. However, this growing adoption also presents complex challenges, particularly in ensuring adequate fire safety. This study aims to identify and prioritize the most critical fire safety measures in mass timber construction. To achieve this objective, a decision-making framework based on an interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy step-wise weight assessment ratio analysis (IVIF-SWARA) is employed to model experts’ opinions under uncertainty. A three-level hierarchical structure with five main factors and twenty-five subfactors is devised based on the literature and expert consultations. IVIF-SWARA is applied to obtain weight vectors. The results indicate that the most critical factors are “fire compartments and insulation systems”, “safe escape routes and evacuation planning”, “cross-section optimization and load-bearing capacity”, “fire resistance and protection of connection elements”, and “early detection and warning systems”. The proposed framework is designed to function as a reusable and adaptable tool for various timber building projects, supporting evidence-based resource allocation, strategic fire safety planning, and the continuous improvement of fire risk mitigation practices.