Building design has been revolutionised in recent years. New materials and better construction techniques have allowed bespoke and impressive public spaces to be created. Consider the Millennium Dome, Hong Kong airport, or the 2012 Olympic stadium.

These bespoke spaces represent a significant challenge for fire safety. Unlike for conventional buildings, with regular layouts and dimensions, there is very little experience to suggest how fires might develop in these spaces, and how people might react in an emergency situation.