FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT

DAVE SIBERT
Senior Fire Engineer
 FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT

• Understanding the fire risk

assessment process
• Requirements of the fire risk assessor
• Accounting for people
• Fire risk assessment in complex
buildings
 FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT
Simple fire risk assessment process
 FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT
Simple fire risk assessment process

TIME
Chain of
Fire growth/smoke
event/factors UNWANTED spread, injury death
which must be present EVENT and damaged following
to result in unwanted
unwanted event
event occurring

FIRE PREVENTION FIRE PROTECTION

MEASURES MEASURES
 FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT
Requirements of the fire risk assessor

• Understanding of how to carry out a risk

assessment
• Knowledge of the workplace
• Understanding of fire - including:
• Ignition
• fire growth
• products of combustion
• Fire protection systems
• human behaviour in fire
FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT
People at significant risk
Identify fire hazards
 sources of ignition
STEP 1
 sources of fuel
 work processes


Identify the location of people at significant
STEP 2
risk in case of fire


Evaluate the risks
Are existing fire safety measures adequate?
 Control of ignition sources/sources of fuel
 Fire detection/warning
STEP 3  Means of escape
 Means of fighting fire
 Maintenance and testing of fire precautions
 Fire safety training of employees
Carry out any improvements needed


Record findings and action taken
Prepare emergency plan
STEP 4
Inform, instruct and train employees in fire
precautions


Keep assessment under review
STEP 5
Revise if situation changes
 FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT
People at significant risk

TIME
Arson Injury
Electrical fault UNWANTED Property damage
Overheating plant EVENT Death
Cooking
FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT
People at significant risk

UNWANTED
Injury
EVENT

large occupancy

UNWANTED
Death
EVENT
Lone worker
 FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT
FRA in complex situations
Identify fire hazards
 sources of ignition
• Step 3: STEP 1
 sources of fuel
 work processes

Often not possible 

Identify the location of people at significant
STEP 2
in short term risk in case of fire


Evaluate the risks
• Step 4: Are existing fire safety measures adequate?
 Control of ignition sources/sources of fuel
 Fire detection/warning
Information and STEP 3  Means of escape
 Means of fighting fire
instruction  Maintenance and testing of fire precautions
 Fire safety training of employees

inadequate Carry out any improvements needed


Record findings and action taken

• Step 5: STEP 4
Prepare emergency plan
Inform, instruct and train employees in fire
precautions
Revision and 
review inadequate STEP 5
Keep assessment under review
Revise if situation changes
 FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT
FRA in complex situations
• Technical Report:
Building, contents, use, occupancy.
Sources of fire, existing measures, people
• Requirements:
Removing/reducing; sources of ignition and fuel
Improving; fire prevention, extinguishing, raising the alarm,
fire containment, means of escape, Information and
instruction.
• Staff summary:
Comprehensible and relevant
• Additional paperwork
Records of reviews, revisions, audits, and alterations
FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT
DAVE SIBERT
Senior Fire Engineer

THANKS