Overview of Fire Hazard and Fire Risk Assessment in Regulation.
Overview of Fire Hazard and Fire Risk Assessment in
Regulation.
(7318 K)
Bukowski, R. W.
CH-06-3-2;
ASHRAE Transactions: Symposia, Vol. 112, No. 1,
387-393, 2006.
Keywords:
regulations; fire risk assessment; fire hazard; fire
risks; hazard assessment; fire models; fire growth;
smoke movement; fire detection; fire departments; risks
Abstract:
Fire hazard and fire risk assessment has gained
popularity in assessing the performance of alternative
approaches to prescriptive regulations and in
justification of proposed changes to regulations and
referenced standards. While risk is the preferred
methodology, often the probabilities needed are not
available and cannot be estimated, resulting in a
default to hazard assessment. In other cases society is
hazard averse, and hazard assessment is the preferable
approach. This paper will provide an overview of fire
hazard and fire risk assessment methodologies used in
regulatory systems and the tools available for
conducting them. Examples of regulatory applications
drawn from buildings, transportation, and nuclear safety
will be provided.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899