a) Risk Profile Assessment:

● Determine the risk profile for fire risks to people.

● Assign separate risk profiles to each part of a building, including mixed-use areas and ancillary spaces.

b) Considerations in Risk Assessment:

● Include fire safety provisions and level of fire prevention management.

c) Purpose of Risk Assessment:

● Highlight the consequences of fire on people, property, business, and the environment.

● Clarify necessary fire safety systems, their functions, and management responsibilities.

d) Factors in Assessing Fire Risk:

● Likelihood of fire occurrence.

● Severity and potential spread of fire.

● Structure's ability to resist fire and smoke spread.

● Danger to people in and around the building.

● Consideration of property protection, business interests, and environmental impact.

e) Guidance Reference:

● Table 1 provides basic factors for assessment and cross-references to relevant sections of the British Standard.

NOTE 1 Risk assessments for property protection, business continuity and environmental damage can be undertaken as an extension to that carried out for life safety.

NOTE 2 This assessment of risk is not designed to satisfy the fire risk assessment requirements of any fire safety-related legislation. Information on fire risk assessment is provided in a series of guides published by Communities and Local Government ([14] to [24]), and in guidance published by the Justice Department of the Scottish Government, available from www.gov.scot/Topics/Justice/policies/ police-fire-rescue/fire/Fire Law 6). Generic information, mainly related to health and safety risk assessment, is given in INDG 163 [25]. Information on quantitative risk assessments for fire safety design is given in PD 7974-7. Recommendations for business continuity are given in BS 25999-1.

NOTE 3 The statutory fire risk assessment can be extended to cover the needs for protection of buildings and their contents as well the prevention of environmental damage and also for business continuity.

Table 1 Basic factor Table 2 occupancy characteristics in assessing fire risks.

Factor

Comments

Adequacy of means to prevent fire

The assessment should identify the scope for fire prevention measures, and indicate the associated management system needed.

Early fire warning by an automatic detection and warning system

This provision can lead to “first aid” or fire and rescue service fire-fighting in the early stages of fire development. Modern systems can be unobtrusive (aspirating), addressable (by which a fire location and development can be identified), and can reduce false alarms.

The standard of means of escape

See section 5 and section 7 (for which structural enclosure and separation would be a part).

Provision of smoke control

See Section 5, Section 6 and Section 7.

Control of the rate of fire growth

This item particularly includes spread of flame over surfaces and behind linings, and within contents. See section 7.

Adequacy of the structure to resist the effects of fire

See Section 7.

Degree of fire containment

Includes containment by sub- compartmentation, cavity barriers, and fire- stopping. See section 7

Fire separation between buildings or parts of a building

See Section 7.

Standard of active measures for fire extinguishment or control

See Section 7.

Facilities to assist the fire and rescue service

See Section 6.

Quality of premises management

See Section 4 and Section 9.

Provisions for staff training and ongoing controls

See Section 9.

Occupancy characteristics and risk profiles

See Clause 6.

5 Assessing risk