Fires can lead to costly building damage as well as loss of lives and injuries. Installed to protect buildings from fire, or to limit the damage from such outbreaks, fire protection measures are a common feature in buildings. However, these features come at a cost. Although quite ubiquitous in buildings, the value of these features to private individuals and to society is not fully understood. To understand their value, a cost benefit analysis detailing the costs and benefits of fire protection measures is needed. Carrying out such an analysis requires methods for computing both the cost of these fire protection measures, and losses from fires (including both direct and indirect losses). This study outlines methodologies for evaluating those costs and losses. An exhaustive collection of available data necessary for estimating both costs and losses is presented. Several limitations in current methodologies and data constraints were identified, with recommendations proposed to address these shortcomings. Relevant sections of a study by the authors that refines fire protection cost estimation at national and sub-national levels are emphasized, including updated building categories, guidance on computing multipliers, and detailed cost calculation methods for installation and maintenance costs. The calculation uses regularly updated U.S. Census Bureau construction data, ensuring timely multiplier updates. The insights and suggestions presented in this study will ultimately refine the process of selecting fire protection strategies that maximize the net benefit of fire protection measures for both private stakeholders and society at large.

火灾可能导致代价高昂的建筑物损坏以及人员伤亡。防火措施是为了保护建筑物免受火灾或限制火灾爆发造成的损害而安装的，是建筑物的一个常见特征。然而，这些功能是有代价的。尽管这些特征在建筑物中相当普遍，但它们对个人和社会的价值尚未得到充分理解。为了了解其价值，需要进行成本效益分析，详细说明消防措施的成本和效益。进行此类分析需要计算这些消防措施的成本以及火灾损失（包括直接和间接损失）的方法。这项研究概述了评估这些成本和损失的方法。提供了估算成本和损失所需的可用数据的详尽集合。确定了当前方法和数据限制的一些局限性，并提出了解决这些缺点的建议。作者强调了一项研究的相关部分，该研究完善了国家和国家以下各级的消防成本估算，包括更新的建筑类别、计算乘数的指南以及安装和维护成本的详细成本计算方法。该计算使用定期更新的美国人口普查局建筑数据，确保及时更新乘数。本研究中提出的见解和建议将最终完善选择消防策略的过程，从而最大限度地提高私人利益相关者和整个社会的消防措施的净效益。