Buildings and facilities can be severely damaged by fire and people can be injured or killed. Along with damage caused directly by a fire, subsequent damage must also be considered. It usually takes weeks or even months to put areas damaged by fire back into operation. Toxic smoke from a fire also poses a very great danger: most personal injuries due to a fire are caused by smoke inhalation. Smoke can cause serious damage to facilities and IT systems, as well.

Burning PVC generates chlorine gases that form hydrochloric acid when they come into contact with moist air and extinguishing water. If the resulting hydrochloric acid vapours are spread through the air conditioning system, sensitive electronic devices located in a part of the building far from the site of the fire may also be damaged.