Fires are among the few processes that significantly impact the state and quality of the environment. Depending on the type and quantity of materials, products, or waste accumulated at a given location, various substances can be released into the environment during a fire. Knowledge of the potential hazards resulting from emission levels allows for appropriate action to be taken and protective measures to be implemented for those present at the scene. Therefore, this article analyzes the composition of emissions depending on the type of material involved in the fire, with particular emphasis on forest fires, substance dumps, and waste disposal sites. An analysis of the available literature revealed the presence of countless toxic organic and inorganic substances, including ultrafine particles and nanoparticles of metals, nonmetals and their compounds, and compounds with long-term toxic and mutagenic effects, such as benzene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), formaldehyde, and 1,3-butadiene. The development of new materials influences the composition of gases and fumes released during fires; therefore, continuous quantitative and qualitative analysis, the development of appropriate analytical tools, and legal requirements are essential.
Concepts such as reuse, repurposing, upcycling, remanufacturing, and re-powering can be applied to the reuse of combustion engines from passenger cars and trucks in stationary or mobile machines, such as power generators. Technical, economic, environmental, and research analyses indicate that such solutions may be justified; however, their implementation is limited by homologation and emission regulations. In most countries, there are no specific rules governing emissions from power generator engines, while in the European Union, such engines are categorized as mobile generators (portable or trailer-mounted) subject to Stage V (Reg. 2016/1628/EU), stationary generators (permanently installed) subject to the MCP Directive (2015/2193/EU), and emergency generators (limited operation) partially exempt from MCP but requiring registration. Consequently, engines recovered from road vehicles do not meet formal or technical emission compliance requirements for power generators and can only be used under conditional approval for research, experimental, or temporary purposes. This reveals a paradox of modern environmental policy: although reusing functional engines from dismantled vehicles could embody the principles of a circular economy, restrictive emission standards (Stage V, MCP, NSPS) effectively prevent such technological recycling. Addressing this issue requires legislative action and the development of simplified testing methods for used engines in new applications. This article is the first to systematically demonstrate that current Stage V, MCP and NSPS emission frameworks create a regulatory paradox that prevents the circular-economy reuse of functional automotive engines, and it proposes a dedicated secondary type-approval pathway enabling their legal and environmentally controlled application in power generators.
Aim: The aim of this article is to attempt to characterize the current state of technical knowledge in the area of fire protection solutions and safeguards for energy storage systems using lithium-ion batteries. Introduction: Technological advancements in energy storage present fire protection with new and diverse challenges. A lithium-ion battery storage fire is characterized by its high dynamics, long duration, risk of rapid spread, and the emission of large quantities of smoke, as well as toxic and corrosive chemical compounds. During such a fire, one must anticipate difficulties in reaching the source of the fire, which is often located deep inside the battery casing. Another challenge is the appropriate selection of fire protection measures for lithium-ion storage facilities and the method of conducting rescue and firefighting operations in the event of a fire. Methodology: For this article, a review and analysis were conducted of relevant literature, available research findings (including preliminary observations made during laboratory and field tests carried out at CNBOP-PIB), and the authors’ own experiences. References to the results of the work by the team appointed at the Scientific and Research Centre for Fire Protection – National Research Institute (CNBOP-PIB) to develop Guidelines for fire protection conditions in energy storage facilities were also included. Conclusions: The content above provides a concise overview of the current state of knowledge regarding the fire hazard posed by lithium-ion battery storage. Fire protection solutions for these storage facilities and the buildings where they are planned for installation should incorporate safety measuresadequate to the accompanying level of fire risk. Among the most crucial safeguards for controlling this hazard are early fire detection, which allows for firefighting actions in the initial phase, and the use of solutions that ensure the interruption of battery heating, as well as those that limit the free spread of fire until rescue teams arrive at the scene.
Aim: The legal regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most pressing challenges of modern legislation. In response, the European Union has developed the first comprehensive AI regulation, the AI Act, which is based on risk analysis. The author, while appreciating the completeness of the EU regulation’s approach, draws attention to its limitations, including the risk of over-regulation, definitional ambiguities, lack of liability provisions, as well as limited flexibility in relation to technological developments. In view of the above, she proposes flexible tools for regulating AI in the form of legislative sandboxes and soft law, which enable legislators to react more quickly to technological changes. Introduction: In the context of the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and the associated risks, it is crucial to consider how AI systems are marketed and used. In this article, the author analyses the main challenges of AI regulation, highlighting the difficulties of defining AI, protecting human rights, ensuring algorithmic transparency, and balancing the innovation of this technology with human and environmental safety. This publication is a continuation of a series of articles on the challenges posed to national and EU legislators by the rapid development of new technologies. In the previous articles published in SFT, the author discussed the legal aspects related to the development and implementation of new technologies and answered the question of whether the current legislation combines the intentions of the lawmakers with social and economic needs. Methodology: The study employs theoretical research methods, including an analysis of national and EU legislation. These considerations are complemented by literature on the subject and the views of experts in the field. The publication also draws on the author’s own research findings. Conclusions: The article discusses the main concepts of the Artificial Intelligence Regulation with a focus on the classification of AI systems, the obligations imposed on their providers and the role of legislative sandboxes. It also points to unresolved issues of legal liability, technological control and enforcement internationally. The author emphasises the need for a hybrid approach to AI regulation, taking into account both legal and socio-ethical contexts.
Abstract The effectiveness of mechanical tactical ventilation during rescue and firefighting operations can be improved by multiplying the number of positive pressure ventilators. Such action can shorten the time of the operation, improve its execution, and reduce the energy consumed by the ventilators used during the operation. In order to determine the proper conditions for the two ventilators to work together, tests were conducted on their positioning relative to the doorway. These values were determined from the flow parameters (flow rate and static overpressure generated). A set of conventional rotor ventilators (each with an output of 4.4 kW) was tested. The article performs an analysis of the magnitude of flow parameters depending on the setting of the positive pressure ventilator. Proper positioning of the set of ventilators can increase the flow rate through the facility by up to 32% and the pressure by 50%. The analysis conducted in the article can be used as recommendations for rescue teams for the proper selection of the setting of the positive pressure ventilator during firefighting operations of internal fires.
