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FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGIES

Conference Paper · June 2020

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Aleksandra Kokic Arsic Marko Pantić

HTSPS Zvečan Faculty of Technical Science
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University of Kragujevac University of Pristina
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 FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGIES

Aleksandra Kokic Arsic, Marko Pantic

Higher Technical Professional School - Zvečan, Zvečan, Serbia
Mladen Radojkovic
Faculty of Technical Sciences, Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia
Dragan Dzunic
University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Engineering, Kragujevac, Serbia

Summary: This paper outlines the basis and the meaning of risk, as well as
the risk management system. The aim is to present facts, which allow the
identification of potential risks, the anticipation of their occurrence, and the
implementation of appropriate measures to mitigate or eliminate risks. As a part of
the management, key activities of the fire risk management process, as well as their
main phases, are given. Different visual, auxiliary, and statistical risk assessment
methods and tools are reviewed and emphasised using examples of fire risks in the
workplace.
Key words: Risk picture, risk management, fire risk assessment methods and
tools.

1. INTRODUCTION

The assessment of the risk of fire is primarily an empirical decision-making

process based on knowledge and experience, and is aimed at increasing fire safety.
The specificity of the observed problem requires knowledge of the technological
process of work, equipment, and the characteristics of the building. By looking at
the "risk picture" [Aven, 2008], consideration is, after hazards and cause, directed
to the barriers. In this context, barriers are elements located between initial and
central elements of the "risk picture" on one side, and the final elements on the
other. In general, barriers may be understood as tools used to protect certain values
from some hazards. Barriers are the key elements of protection system
management. A fire protection system based on the barrier model comprises:
danger analysis and fire threat assessment, defining and applying barriers, defining
the barrier performance criteria, performance verification, and continuous
enhancement.
According to Ware (2009), the following three groups of barriers can be
defined: Buildings and Technologies; Processes; and Human Resources. The group

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Building and Technologies relates to building, technologies, and technical
protection systems and fire extinguishing equipment (stable detection systems,
alarms, extinguishing and cooling systems, hydrant network with accessory
equipment, and fire extinguishers). Threat analysis and risk assessment for
buildings and technologies are carried out in the design, construction, and
exploitation phases. An internal documentation audit during the design and
construction phases aims to verify compliance with fire protection standards,
whereas the external verification is done before exploitation in the form of a
technical acceptance check.
Processes include: maintenance (keeping, inspection, and testing of all building
elements, technologies, and systems relevant for fire protection); inspections and tests
of equipment and assets belonging to the organisation’s fire brigades; system of work
permits for high-risk work activities and the management of contractors and third
parties regarding industrial, ecological, and occupational safety and health, including
fire protection; and fire and evacuation actions. In the event of a fire, every trained
employee is obliged to participate in extinguishing it, and to assess the safe ways of
doing so; otherwise, the employee is obliged to inform fire-fighting units immediately,
to act in accordance with the appropriate instructions, if possible, and to evacuate. The
fire-fighting units shall act in accordance with the operational fire extinguishing plans,
fire protection plans, and recovery plans. The evacuation shall be carried out in
accordance with the evacuation plan. The elimination of the consequences caused by
the fire is done according to the recovery plan.
Training and drills for human resources encompass trainings in fire
protection as well as the fire-fighting drills, including evacuation.
2. FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT
The management on the example of fire protection is a cyclical process
applied in all phases of the life cycle of buildings and technologies. It encompasses
risk assessment and appropriate measures of preventive and repressive fire
protection.
The risk of fire can be considered as a function of frequency and
consequence. It is usually measured by the number of casualties, as well as the
material and financial losses. Risk management represents identification,
measurement, and risk control. Risk control depends on the priority of risk and
implies the introduction of measures aimed at reducing the risk to an acceptable
level.
In the context of responsibility for fire protection management, it is carried
out on two levels. The first level consists of fire-fighting, and the second of
preventive activities.

2.1 Fire Risk Assessment

Fire risk assessment includes identification, assessment, and management of
risks arising from the occurrence of a fire. The objectives of the fire risk assessment in

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the workplace are to: identify fire hazards, reduce the risk of noticed hazards by
reducing the operational damage to the admissible, and apply technical and
organisational preventive and repressive fire protection measures in order to protect the
persons present.
There is no comprehensive risk assessment method. The procedure is to be
conducted in a practical and systematic way, from design, construction, and finally to the
exploitation of a building. Hazard analysis and threat assessment are used to obtain
information on the types of hazards and the levels of threat, as a basis for defining the
organisation of fire protection, barriers, performance standards, and the verification
methods. In the design and construction phases, hazard analysis and threat assessment are
done through the documents arising from legal and other requirements. The results of
threat analysis and assessment are incorporated in project documentation, and
subsequently in fire protection rules, fire protection plan, recovery plan, training
program, as well as in normative methodological documents referring to the protection
against fire.
2.2 Assessment Procedure
The assessment of fire risks must include workplace, wider working environment
(such as the parts of building that are rarely used), and outdoor space. Recognition and
identification of fire hazards at the workplace are done on the basis of the data collected
from available documentation, by monitoring the work process, obtaining the necessary
information from employees and other sources, and by sorting the collected data and the
possible hazards indicated by these data. figure 1 shows the course of the Action Plan for
risk assessment.
The first step in the assessment procedure foresees the identification of all fire
hazards, including all sources of ignition (e.g. open flame, electrical energy, static
electricity, sparks, etc.). It is also necessary to record the conditions that contribute to the
rapid spread of fire, such as inadequate division of the building into fire compartments,
presence of stairs and elevators, low fire resistance of building construction elements, etc.
The second step foresees the identification of the number of persons who are
exposed to the immediate risk in the event of a fire and those who are in close
proximity. Identification should consider the permanent location of the workplaces,
as well as occasional locations across the building. It is especially necessary to
consider those persons who work independently and/or in isolated areas, persons
with special needs who are not able to react quickly in the event of fire, as well as
visitors who are not familiar with the evacuation routes.
After identifying the hazard and the individuals endangered by the fire, it is
necessary to assess the fire risk. The analysis of existing measures of preventive
fire protection represents the next assessment phase. Fire detection devices (e.g.
manual detectors, fire detectors, sirens, telephone etc.) are assessed depending on
the size and complexity of the workplace. The possibility of abandoning the
workplace in the shortest possible time should be analysed. Evacuation routes and
exits must be permanently passable, clearly marked, and illuminated. The

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assessment of the amount and conditions of existing devices, equipment, and the
hazard analysis, as well as the existing measures, determine if the present level of
protection is sufficient or if it should be upgraded.

Figure 1. Course of Action Plan for Risk Assessment

Further assessment includes the categorisation into high, medium, or low risks.
The fourth phase consists of making a record of detected fire hazards and taking
measures to reduce or eliminate them. A plan to prevent fire occurrence and to carry
out safe evacuation in the event of fire must be made. This phase also requires the
adequate training of employees in the field of fire protection. Fire risk assessment
documentation should be revised with the occurrence of new hazards and changes in
the level of fire risk.

3. CONCLUSION

Numerous risk definitions refer to probability, opportunity, chance, or

expected outcome, and may also relate to uncertainty, unwanted and unplanned
activities, and hazards. In order to eliminate the occurrence of unwanted and

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 unplanned events, it is necessary to understand these events and their
consequences. Knowing the nature of the consequences represents the basis of their
reduction and of the continued desire for their complete elimination.
The risk assessment process has been given a key role by the European
Directive 89/391/EEC. In non-member states, for example in the Republic of Serbia,
and in the fire protection context used in this work to concretise the topics of risk
assessment and risk management, the basic binding guidelines that employers have to
respect, apply, and implement are given through the Labour Law and the Occupational
Health and Safety Act. Every organisation has the obligation to provide every worker
with such work conditions that don't endanger life and health. When risk management
activities are carried out in an appropriate and prescribed manner, it is a sure sign that
workplace safety is enhanced.

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