Fire Risk Assessments
A fire risk assessment is a decisive tool in the implementation of fire prevention and protection measures. Using this tool, committees such as the FPA (Fire Protection Association) can better assess the relative impact of different risks and fire safety protection methods.
One way to determine the safety measures needed for controlling fire risk is the exact knowledge, both qualitative and quantitative, of the likelihood of a fire breaking out.
What factors are likely to cause a fire?
The likelihood of a fire starting or spreading in an open or enclosed space comes down to a number of factors that can be grouped into:
Factors that promote the start of a fire:
Fires can start in a number of ways, including as a result of ignited fuel which easily spreads through a rapid chain reaction. Add oxidiser (usually oxygen and ambient temperature) to the internal structure of the space and you’ve got the perfect ignition source for the fire to take hold in your property.
Factors that increase the spread of fire and material consequences:
There are a number of factors that affect the likelihood of a fire spreading, such as the size of the surface, the height of the sector (the higher the height, the better the propagation of the fire by the currents), the thermal load of the building and the difficulties in fighting fires.
If your building is difficult to access for fire services and therefore requires specialist fire-fighting equipment, then this can also give the fire additional time to spread and cause more damage.
Factors limiting the spread and consequences of fire:
Factors that limit the spread and consquences of fire include the evacuation of smoke through vents and windows and the self-protection plan. This consists of certain organisational measures such as primary fire detection means, alarm means, intervention teams, fire-fighting material means, equipment and time for an intervention of external aid, among others.
Fire protection methods based on risk factor assessments
To determine the magnitude of the consequences of a fire, the factors to be analysed are fire protection measures such as the following:
Passive protection measures:
These measures mean that you do not engage with the fire directly yourself. This includes noting the location of the space and the relevant hazards, including the distribution and characteristics of the fuels on the premises which could be flammable or even explosive.
Correct signage and the presence of special lighting is also important to ensure that you are able to safely evacuate the premises in the case of a fire.
Active protection measures:
These are fire-fighting measures such as fire-fighting training of personnel, fire detection equipment, alarm transmission, emergency plans, easy access for external fire-fighting services and maintenance of fire detection, alarm and fire-fighting systems.
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