In the wake of the devastating fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, here at Intellis, we have been interested in learning about some of the vital factors that allowed the French Fire Brigade to act quickly, salvaging the main structure and many historical artifacts after two-thirds of the roof along with the delicate spire were destroyed in a fire earlier this week.

While the official cause is unknown, the French authorities are conducting an intensive investigation and treating the disaster as an accident. However, in the days following the fire, it has emerged that Notre-Dame lacked many of the fundamental fire-prevention safeguards typically required in modern structures.

Thankfully, no injuries were reported, and a total disaster was averted. However, this event has highlighted just how essential it is for facility managers to develop solid emergency preparedness plans and routinely run practice drills. It has also emphasized the role that technology will play in rebuilding efforts.

The pompiers of Paris were prepared

The French Fire Brigade (Sapeurs-Pompiers de Paris) had run drills at Notre Dame to prepare for a potential calamity. These emergency response drills were carried out regularly and proved absolutely critical for saving the cathedral's primary structure and many of the historical artifacts inside.

Learn more about the importance of developing an Emergency Response Management Plan.

For example, the fire team quickly deployed boats on the Seine to pump large amounts of water to douse the fire. According to a NY Times article, Gabriel Plus, a spokesman for the Paris fire brigade, explained that there were about 500 firefighters who responded with hoses trained on the blaze while another 100 focused on saving religious and cultural artifacts.

Technology also helped firefighters control and eventually put out the blaze. Firefighters used a robot equipped with tank-type treads and a camera to pull hoses into the cathedral and aim water at the flames. They also used aerial drones to obtain a better view of the situation. They used thermal imaging to more accurately detect where the inferno was blazing most intensely, allowing firefighters to target the most critical areas first.

There were regular roof assessments and inspections

The timber-lined attic was known to be a structural insecurity. Guards regularly inspected the rood to recognize and identify potential early warning signs that may indicate more serious problems.

Msgr. Patrick Chauvet, the cathedral's rector, explained to radio station France Inter that they have fire monitors positioned at the building who would go up to the wooden roof three times a day to inspect and assess its security.

Learn more about the importance of facility condition inspections.

Digital Scans and Building Information Modeling will aid rebuilding efforts

There is hope for rebuilding and restoring Notre Dame after the fire thanks to an intensive digital scanning project carried out by the architectural historian Andrew Tallon, which used high-tech lasers and 3D modeling techniques.

Tallon captured an exact digital replica (aka digital twin) of the cathedral in 2015 by using lasers to map the entire structure. He measured the time the laser took to reach the target and return to create a precise image of the iconic building. His scans will be crucial for future rebuilding efforts.

Find out more about the importance of digital twins for facilities management. 

His extensive work exemplifies the importance of using emerging technologies like Building Information Modeling and 3D scanning for future disaster planning and the preservation of architectural masterpieces.

At Intellis, we are big proponents of using data collected from 3D scanning and Building Information Modeling (BIM)—the digital modeling of structures—for ongoing facility management and for tracking building and asset lifecycle data. BIM is important not only during the design and construction of a single building but also throughout the asset lifecycle of an entire portfolio of facilities. 

The recent events at Notre Dame in Paris further highlight the importance of collecting and maintaining this type of data for daily use and, more crucially, disaster planning.

Interested in learning more about how Intellis can help you plan and protect the future of your facilities?

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This blog delivers insightful information on the fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. It covers the vital factors that allowed the French Fire Brigade to act quickly, salvaging the main structure and many historical artifacts. The blog highlights the role of technology in rebuilding efforts and emphasizes the importance of developing solid emergency preparedness plans and regularly running practice drills.

This post also delves into the significance of digital scans and Building Information Modeling for rebuilding efforts, how they can aid in disaster planning, and how they can preserve architectural masterpieces. We even discuss the importance of using data collected from 3D scanning and BIM for ongoing facility management and tracking building and asset lifecycle data.

At Intellis, we understand the value of technology and data-driven solutions for facility management, and we're here to help you plan and protect the future of your facilities. So, if you're interested in learning more, be sure to read our blog post and contact us for expert advice and solutions.