Summary The present report is the result of a project developed by the Swedish Rescue Services Agency and co financed by the European Commission, Civil Protection Unit under the Community action programme in the field of civil protection (2000-2004). Fire experts from national authorities of 13 Member States and EEA-countries compiled for the first time the present comprehensive description of fire safety on the basis of a questionnaire and interviews issued in 2003. The report is not only a valuable information source for benchmarking, but it also identifies trends and inspires to new research and development projects.