Fire Risk Assessment Guidelines
The Fire Risk Assessment

Fire Risk Assessment Guidelines

The Fire Risk Assessment

Formulation of Risk Control Plan

Documenting a Fire Risk Assessment

Common Questions

Key Points

The fire risk assessment should begin with a thorough audit of the Workplace. The appropriate steps in the fire risk assessment process are as follows.

Fire Hazard Identification

Each potential cause of fire, or situation that could give rise to a fire, should be identified and recorded.

Assessment of Fire Prevention Measures

The measures in place to control the hazards should be considered.

Assessment of the likelihood of a fire occurring

A subjective assessment of the probability of fire should be reached. In the system used within the BBC, five categories of probability are used:

Very Unlikely (freak event).
Unlikely (unlikely sequence of events).
Possible (foreseeable under unusual circumstances).
Likely (easily foreseeable).
Very Likely (common occurrence).

Assessment of the Likely Consequences of Fire

Factors to consider are:

The number and characteristics of the occupants.
The nature of the activities being undertaken.
The size, height and construction of the building.
The fire protection measures, including means of escape, emergency lighting, signs, fire warning systems, fire extinguishing equipment, etc.
Management issues, such as the adequacy of , staff training, fire drills, testing and maintenance of fire protection systems, etc.
Value of the building and its contents
Nature of the business activities carried out
Vulnerability of the business to interruption.

Five possible categories of likely consequences are used:

Negligible (no likely harm to occupants or property)
Slight (serious injury or death of any occupant or significant damage to property very unlikely)
Moderate (injury possible, but serious injury or death unlikely; any such injury or death unlikely to involve multiples of people; property damage likely to be localised; downtime unlikely to be significant)
Severe (potential for serious injury or death of one or more occupants; significant property damage possible, but total loss unlikely; downtime significant but service could be restored)
Very Severe (potential for serious injury or death of a number of people; total loss of building likely; prolonged loss of service likely.

Assessment of Fire Risk

The level of risk is determined by taking into account the probability of fire and the likely consequences of fire. to life, property protection and protection of essential business. Fire risk is classified as:

Acceptable
Low
Moderate
High
Immediate