A Systems Thinking approach to balancing fire safety and sustainability in building design

This paper uses a Systems Thinking approach to analyse the competing objectives of fire safety and sustainability in building design. Through the explicit identification and classification of reinforcing and balancing feedback loops, the study constructs an integrated Causal Loop Diagram (CLD) that captures dynamic interactions among key variables such as material selection, building height, façade combustibility, ventilation systems, automatic extinguishing, and advanced detection systems. The analysis highlights a critical reinforcing loop that can lead to potential instabilities if left unmanaged, alongside balancing loops that naturally stabilize system behaviours. Strategic intervention points, particularly regarding innovative material development and fire protection technologies, are identified to enhance the simultaneous achievement of fire safety and sustainability objectives. The insights gained provide a clear foundation for informed decision-making, policy formulation, and resilient building practices.