“COST Action C17 Built Heritage: Fire Loss to Historic Buildings” , which was formally inaugurated in Brussels in December 2002. The agreed MoU identified four work-packages: • Working Group 1 : Data, loss statistics and evaluating risks. • Working Group 2 : Available and developing technology. • Working Group 3 : Cultural and financial value. • Working Group 4 : Property management strategies. COST C17 had as its central objective the definition, at a European level, of the degree of loss to built heritage through the effects of fire, and the promotion of remedial actions and recommendations to combat these using minimal invasive techniques. The Action also aimed to address a general lack of statistical information, and a common lack of understanding and appreciation of what measures are available and required. It sought to provide good practice guidance on how to sensitively retrofit modern day fire protection equipment into historic fabric, and to develop related management expert...