Fire safety after Crans-Montana | Why smoke becomes the greatest threat

No. 26

Despite advances in fire safety engineering, regulations and building technology, major fire disasters continue to expose the same vulnerabilities.

The fire in Crans-Montana, which claimed numerous lives, once again highlights a critical reality: in many fire incidents, the greatest danger is not the fire itself. It is the smoke.

Why smoke extraction, escape routes, alarm systems and preventive fire safety must work together, and what this means for the design of safer buildings.

TROX TERRA

09/07/2026 8 min

What you need to know

In many fire incidents, smoke and toxic combustion gases pose the greatest threat to human life.
Within minutes, smoke can severely reduce visibility, impair orientation and limit a person's ability to act.
Many major fire disasters reveal similar weaknesses: rapid smoke development, inadequate smoke extraction and compromised escape routes.
A smoke extraction system improves visibility, reduces toxic smoke concentrations and creates valuable time for evacuation and rescue operations.
Effective fire safety relies on the interaction of structural fire protection, smoke extraction, alarm systems and accessible escape routes.

WHAT DOES FIRE SAFETY MEAN?

Fire safety involves far more than extinguishing fires. Technical systems detect fire, alert occupants and help contain both flames and smoke.

An important element is smoke extraction. It creates low-smoke areas and supports evacuation procedures while enabling more effective emergency response.

»Every disaster is a reminder that there can be no compromise when it comes to fire safety.«

Udo Jung, Member of the Executive Board, TROX SE

WHEN SECONDS
DETERMINE OUTCOMES

Witness accounts from major fire incidents often sound remarkably similar.

One moment, a building is filled with people, music and conversation. The next, everything changes. Smoke spreads rapidly. Visibility disappears. Orientation is lost. People search for exits, encounter obstacles or simply follow those around them. Panic begins to take hold.

The fire in Crans-Montana joins a long list of major fire disasters. Despite differences in countries, buildings and regulations, investigations repeatedly reveal the same patterns: rapid smoke development, inadequate smoke extraction, poor orientation and missing or poorly visible escape routes.

WHAT MAJOR FIRE DISASTERS
HAVE IN COMMON

2001

Café Het Hemeltje

Volendam, Netherlands

2003

The Station nightclub

West Warwick, USA

2013

Kiss nightclub

Santa Maria, Brazil

2015

Colectiv nightclub

Bucharest, Romania

2025

Le Constellation bar

Crans-Montana, Switzerland

CONCLUSION

Different locations. Different decades.

Yet the same risk factors continue to emerge:

Rapid smoke development
Highly combustible materials
Insufficient smoke extraction
Inadequate alarm systems
Compromised escape routes

WHY SMOKE IS
THE GREATEST THREAT

Up to 1 minute

Visibility drops dramatically
Eyes become irritated
Orientation is lost

Result: Escape routes are overlooked.

1 to 3 minutes

Breathing difficulties
Coughing
Gag reflex
Lack of oxygen
Carbon monoxide blocks oxygen transport

Result: Loss of control and increasing panic.

Afterwards

Weakness
Impaired consciousness
Unconsciousness

Result: Immediate danger of life.

»Fire threatens people. Smoke catches them by surprise.«

SMOKE EXTRACTION

WHAT A SMOKE EXTRACTION
SYSTEM ACHIEVES

A modern smoke extraction system has a clear objective: to remove smoke from a building in a controlled manner. This improves visibility, reduces toxic smoke concentrations and provides valuable time for evacuation.

Natural smoke extraction

(e.g. windows, roof vents)

Dependent on weather conditions
Relies on thermal buoyancy
Limited controllability
Reaches technical limits more quickly in larger buildings

Smoke extraction system

Improved visibility in smoke-filled areas
Escape routes remain usable for longer
Lower smoke concentrations
Better conditions for emergency services
More time for evacuation and rescue operations

Facts & Figures

Smoke development

10 kg of paper or cardboard can generate around 10,000 m³ of smoke.
10 kg of polyurethane foam can generate around 20,000 m³ of smoke.
Smoke development often determines the speed at which a fire escalates.

Human behaviour during a fire

Only a small proportion of people respond immediately and purposefully.
Studies show that many occupants initially become disoriented or lose their sense of direction.
Many people choose familiar routes rather than the nearest available exit.

WHY PEOPLE OFTEN
REACT INCORRECTLY

Technology alone is not enough.

In an emergency, people rarely behave in a fully rational way. Studies show that only a small percentage of occupants respond immediately and purposefully. Most lose their orientation or instinctively follow familiar routes rather than the nearest exit.

This is why alarm systems, clear wayfinding and highly visible escape routes remain among the most important elements of an effective fire safety strategy.

SAFETY DEPENDS ON THE SYSTEM

Effective fire safety is never the result of individual products alone.

It is achieved when structural fire protectioin, smoke extraction, alarm systems and escape routes work together. This is why TROX collaborates with planners, operators and specialist partners to develop and deliver integrated safety concepts.

Because safety does not begin when an emergency occurs.

It begins during planning, continues through construction and remains essential throughout a building's operation.

faq

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT
FIRE SAFETY AND SMOKE EXTRACTION

Why is smoke so dangerous during a fire?

Because smoke contains toxic gases, reduces oxygen levels and can impair orientation and decision-making within a very short period of time.

What belongs in a modern fire safety concept?

Effective fire safety concepts include preventive fire protection, structural fire protection, alarm systems, smoke extraction systems and clearly identifiable escape routes.

What is a smoke extraction system?

A smoke extraction system removes smoke from a building in a controlled manner so that escape routes remain usable and emergency responders can operate more effectively.

Why is smoke extraction important?

Because it improves visibility, reduces smoke exposure and creates additional time for evacuation.

What is preventive fire protection?

Preventive fire protection includes structural, technical and organisational measures ranging from fire safety concepts and smoke extraction to alarm systems and escape routes.

WEBINAR: UNDERSTANDING FIRE SAFETY AS A WHOLE

What lessons can be learned from Crans-Montana? What role do smoke extraction, escape routes and integrated safety concepts play in modern buildings?   

Our webinar examines the events and highlights what matters most in practice.

Watch the webinar

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Many major fire disasters reveal recurring patterns and similar vulnerabilities.
In most fire incidents, smoke presents the greatest risk to human life.
Preventive fire safety must integrate smoke extraction, alarm systems and escape routes from the outset.
Modern smoke extraction systems create better conditions for evacuation and rescue operations.
Safety depends on collaboration between all stakeholders, not on individual measures alone.
Crans-Montana demonstrates why there can be no compromise when it comes to fire safety.