CFPA-E
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CFPA-E No 4:2010 F
Introduction to qualitative fire risk
assessment
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FOREWORD
The European fire protection associations have decided to produce common guidelines in order to
achieve similar interpretation in European countries and to give examples of acceptable solutions,
concepts and models. The Confederation of Fire Protection Associations in Europe (CFPA E) has
the aim to facilitate and support fire protection activities across Europe/work in European/work in
the European countries.
The market imposes new demands for quality and safety. Today, fire protection forms an integral
part of a modern strategy for survival and competitiveness.
This guideline is an introduction to a qualitative method of assessing fire risks. There are many
methods of carrying out a fire risk assessment and examples are Gardner, Meseri, Frame and the
Fire Safety Concepts Tree. An analytical method enables a better fire risk assessment to be made
and allows better control to be exercised over the fire hazards.
The proposals within this guideline have been produced by the AIAS - Associazione professionale
Italiana Ambiente e Sicurezza and the author is Tiziano Zuccaro from Italy.
This guideline has been compiled by Guidelines Commission and adopted by all fire protection
associations in the Confederation of Fire Protection Associations Europe.
These guidelines reflect best practice developed by the countries of CFPA Europe. Where the
guidelines and national requirement conflict, national requirements must apply.
Zrich, 18 November 2010 Stockholm, 18 November 2010
CFPA Europe Guidelines Commission
Dr. Hubert Regg Tommy Arvidsson
Chairman Chairman
3 GUIDELINE No 4:2010 F
Contents
1 Introduction...................................................................................................................... 4
2 Scope................................................................................................................................ 4
3 Reference Publications....................................................................................................... 4
4 Key terms.......................................................................................................................... 4
5 Summary .......................................................................................................................... 5
6 Fire Risk Assessment Procedure.......................................................................................... 6
6.1 Identify hazards......................................................................................................... 6
6.2 Identify people and property exposed to a hazard........................................................ 7
6.3 Remove and reduce the fire hazards........................................................................... 7
6.4 Determine level of risk /Assign risk categories ............................................................. 8
6.5 Decide if the measures of risk reduction are reliable..................................................... 8
6.6 Decide if the residual risk is tolerable.......................................................................... 9
6.7 Review adequacy of the action plan............................................................................ 9
7 Reference list .................................................................................................................... 9
8 Bibliography.................................................................................................................... 10
9 European guidelines......................................................................................................... 10
10 Risk assessment form.................................................................................................. 11
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1 Introduction
Risk assessment is now implemented in much of the legislation affecting health and safety
management in many countries around the world.
This guideline outlines an introduction to a qualitative way to assess fire risk for people and/or
property.
When using this method caution is urged if the risk is high. More specific methods should be used
for analysis if the risk is high (see Reference List).
2 Scope
The aim of this guide is to show the method for carrying out assessments for a robust and
effective fire risk management in workplaces when the probability of occurrence of an accident is
not easy to calculate. In fact not only for major disasters, where it is possible to know the
probability of occurrence of an accident, but also for small fires or explosions causing serious
consequences.
3 Reference Publications
Other publications that provide information or guidance are listed in the Bibliography. Specifically,
reference should be made to the following publications:
- BS 8800:1996, Guide to occupational health and safety management systems
- EC Directive 391/89
- EC Directive 106/89 and its Interpretative Document No.2
4 Key terms
Accident undesired event giving rise to death, ill health, injury, damage or other loss
Exposure the possibility for the people and/or for the goods to be exposed to a
particular hazard
Fire Hazard the potential for loss of life (or injury) and /or damage to property by fire
Hazard
Identification
process of recognising that a hazard exists and defining its characteristics
Incident event that gave rise to an accident or had the potential to lead to an
accident
Risk Assessment overall process of estimating the magnitude of risk and deciding whether or
not the risk is tolerable
Risk the potential for realisation of an unwanted event, which is a function of the
hazard and its exposure
Safety freedom from unacceptable risk of harm
Tolerable Risk
risk that has been reduced to a level that can be endured by the
organisation having regard to its legal obligations and its own Health
and Safety Policy
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5 Summary
Introducing the new definition of what a qualitative fire risk assessment consists of, we can say
that Risk Assessment depends on two terms: the HAZARD and the EXPOSURE to it.
RISK
Function of
(HAZARD x EXPOSURE)
HAZARD can have a range from 0 to 1
and
EXPOSURE can have a range from 1 to 3
Where
RISK
Function of
(HAZARD x EXPOSURE)
HAZARD can have a range from 0 to 1
and
EXPOSURE can have a range from 1 to 3
Where
In other terms HAZARD can be present (1) or not (0)
And EXPOSURE levels may be considered as follows:
Level 1: property and goods can be damaged; people are not exposed directly to the hazard
Level 2: people can be harmed, but they can leave the place if necessary and property and
goods can be seriously damaged
Level 3: possible deaths, people injured, goods destroyed, following accidents evolving in
disasters.
In this way, this function determines 4 risk levels, as follows:
No Risk
No action is required and no documentary records need to be kept.
Low
Where there is hardly any risk from fire, few combustible materials, no highly flammable
substances and virtually no sources of heat
Normal
Where there are sufficient quantities of combustible materials and sources of heat to be of greater
than low fire risk but where a fire would be likely to remain confined or to spread but slowly
High
Where there is a serious risk to life from fire, there are substantial quantities of combustible
materials, there are any highly flammable substances or there exists the likelihood of the rapid
spread of fire, heat or smoke. High fire risk place are considered those where, apart from the
presence of flammable substances and the probability for fire to spread, overcrowding of places,
their condition and motor restrictions on people make the evacuation difficult in case of fire.
As a general rule, the existence of a hazard is a matter of fact, but its potential ability to cause
harm depends on the level of exposure of the people and of the goods.
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So the starting question will be: is there a hazard? What is its level of exposure?
Hazard Exposure
0 1 1 2 3
Risk
x 0 No Risk
x x 1 Low
x x 2 Normal
x x 3 High
6 Fire Risk Assessment Procedure
The fire risk assessment procedure described in this code is intended to be used to classify the risk
according to the scheme above. Below is shown the flow chart of the procedure:
Identify hazards
Identify people and goods exposed to a hazard
Remove and reduce the fire hazards
Determine level of risk
Assign risk categories
Decide if the safety measures are adequate
Decide if the residual risk is tolerable
Review adequacy of action plan
IF NO
IF NO
6.1 Identify hazards
Instead of defining the probability of an event, an understanding of the character and intrinsic
properties of the materials or equipment that have been identified, or the methodologies in which
they are used, may lead to an understanding of the ways in which they could contribute to the
initiation of a fire.
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In other words an understanding of the fire dangers, like the presence of dangerous substances
(combustible, flammable, etc.) and possible sources of ignition, allows a determination of the
probability of a fire occurring.
To identify the fire Hazard you can follow the Table 1 points: D-E-F-G
6.2 Identify people and property exposed to a hazard
The people exposed may be staff, contractors, visitors or members of the public. Consideration
should be given to the numbers of people visiting or working in each area, to ensure that the
means of escape are adequate.
Particular note should be made where:
- sleeping accommodation is provided
- large numbers of the public may be present
- people may be unfamiliar with the layout of the building and the location of the exit routes
- staff are working in areas where there is a specific risk, such as spray painting
- people may have lengthy or tortuous escape routes
- contractors are working up ladders or on scaffolding
Consideration must also be given to the weak points of the structure and to its contents.
To identify people and goods exposed to a hazard you can follow the Table 2 points: H- I
6.3 Remove and reduce the fire hazards
For each of the hazards that have been identified in step 6.1, consider whether it could be
removed, reduced, replaced, separated, protected, repaired or cleaned and if people in workplaces
can be better informed or trained.
Be careful! Don't insert a hazard of a different kind trying to reduce the level of the previous
hazard.
To identify the measures of risk reduction you can follow the Table 4 points: K-L-M-N (See Annex)
References to determine whether the residual risk is acceptable or not should be:
1. national laws and regulations,
2. accepted European/International technical standards (e.g. Eurocodes for structural fire
design)
3. accepted fire protection principles (both national and European/International)
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6.4 Determine level of risk / Assign risk categories
To determine the level of risk we could use different types of algorithm. The following example is
one of these for risks relating to the use of flammable materials:
Can the most flammable material be removed
or replaced with less flammable one?
Can the most likely ignition source be
separated from flammable materials?
Are there easily ignitable
materials or ones which would
give rapid fire/smoke spread?
Any other flammable
materials or quantities of ignitable
materials in the workplace?
Any likely sources of
ignition near these materials?
NO
YES
YES
NO
NO
YES
LOW RISK
NO
Can the separated areas be
considered as a limited part of
the workplace area?
Are they throughout
the workplace? YES
Is each containing area separated
from rest of workplace by
adequate resistance?
NO
Do these areas have adequate
automatic suppression?
HIGH RISK
NO
Could fire, heat or smoke spread
rapidly through workplace by
ducts/surfaces/structures?
YES
NO
YES
NORMAL RISK
NO
YES
YES
NO YES
NO
YES
The first two steps in the grey frame, which constitute cyclical loops, correspond to the point 6.3
of the procedure (Remove and reduce the fire hazards)
An application of the outlined methodology can be made through the use of the table 3 point: J
(See Annex)
6.5 Decide if the measures of risk reduction are reliable
The risk analysis demands the total appraisal of the reliability of all the present measures for the
management of the risk.
To decide if the measures of risk reduction are reliable you can follow the Table 5 point: P
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6.6 Decide if the residual risk is tolerable
To this point of the analysis, by estimating the outcomes which have been reached from the
application of the tables introduced previously, it is possible to estimate the acceptability of the
residual risk and verify if the previewed safety objectives from European Directive 106/89/CE are
met.
- the load bearing capacity of the building for a specific period of time
- the generation and spread of fire and smoke within the works are limited
- the spread of the fire in the neighbouring construction works is limited
- occupants can leave the works or be rescued by other means
- the safety of the rescue team is taken into consideration
To decide if the measures of risk reduction are reliable you can follow the Table 5 point: O (See
Annex)
Where the primary safety (i.e. human life) can be considered adequate and the residual risk is
tolerable, decide if it is more convenient to improve cost/effective measures and/or transfer the
risk for goods to an insurance company.
Possible improvements would include such steps as:
- The reduction of evacuation times/escape route lengths
- The provision of additional escape routes
- The installation of more fire alarm call points
- The provision of more fire safety signs
- The installation of a sprinkler system
- The institution of better programmes of fire safety training
- The appointment of fire wardens
- Etc.
6.7 Review adequacy of the action plan
Reassess risks checking the implementation of the plan and planning the corrective action required
to demonstrate that the precautions are sufficient to keep the hazard under control and meet legal
requirements.
7 Reference list
The most common methods of risk assessment are:
- The methods included in the legislation of each country
- Gretener
- Meseri
- Frame
- Fire Safety Concepts Tree
- Dow Index
- Etc.
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8 Bibliography
- Adair Lewis, William Dailey, Fire Risk Management in the Workplace. A Guide for Employers,
The Fire Protection Association, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire 1997
- F. Arruzzoli, P. Belardinelli, D. Poggiali, T. Zuccaro, Analisi del rischio incendio nei luoghi di
lavoro. Guida applicativa alla valutazione del rischio in conformit al D.M. 10.03.98, Epc Libri,
Roma 1999
9 European guidelines
Guideline No 1:2002 F - Internal fire protection control
Guideline No 2:2007 F - Panic & emergency exit devices
Guideline No 3:2003 F - Certification of thermographers
Guideline No 4:2003 F - Introduction to qualitative fire risk assessment
Guideline No 5:2003 F - Guidance signs, emergency lighting and general lighting
Guideline No 6:2004 F - Fire safety in residential homes for the elderly
Guideline No 7:2005 F - Safety distance between waste containers and buildings
Guideline No 8:2004 F - Preventing arson information to young people
Guideline No 9:2005 F - Fire safety in restaurants
Guideline No 10:2008 F - Smoke alarms in the home
Guideline No 11:2005 F - Recommended numbers of fire protection trained staff
Guideline No 12:2006 F - Fire safety basics for hot work operatives
Guideline No 13:2006 F - Fire protection documentation
Guideline No 14:2007 F - Fire protection in information technology facilities
Guideline No 15:2010 F - Fire safety in guest harbours and marinas
Guideline No 16:2008 F - Fire protection in offices
Guideline No 17:2008 F - Fire safety in farm buildings
Guideline No 18:2008 F - Fire protection on chemical manufacturing sites
Guideline No 19:2008 F - Fire safety engineering concerning evacuation from buildings
Guideline No 20:2009 F - Fire safety in camping sites
Guideline No 21:2010 F - Fire prevention on construction sites
Guideline No 22:2010 F - Wind turbines Fire protection guideline
Guideline No 23:2010 F - Securing the operational readiness of fire control system
Guideline No 24:2010 F - Fire safe homes
Guideline No 25:2010 F - Emergency plan
Guideline No 26:2010 F - Fire protection of temporary buildings on construction sites
Appendix
10 Risk assessment form
Area identification
A
Activity description:
B
Area features description
(structural tipology, etc.)
YES NO Descript.
C Specific risk area
1. Hazards identification
Yes No N.A.
1 Are combustible materials/substances present?
2 Are comburent materials/substances present?
3 Are flammable materials/substances present?
4 Are explosive materials/substances present?
5 Are toxic materials/substances present?
6 Are wastes present?
D Materials and substances
7 Other
1
Natural external sources (lightning, forest fires,
etc.)
2 Mechanical sources (friction, etc)
3 Electrical sources
4 Cigarettes
5 Heat sources (stoves, oven, etc.)
6 Self combustion
7 Hot works
E Sources of ignition
8 Other
1 Inadequate activity location
2 Secluded place
3 Inadequate area use
4 Manifest inadequate fire load or load bearing
5 Specific risk area lacks
F Structural or facilities lacks
6 System compliance lacks
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7 Signage and prohibition lacks
8 Ventilation/aeration lacks
9 Inadequate safety distances
10 Inadequate or incomplete fire divisions
11 One way escape route presence
12 Inadequate escape ways/exits
13 Surveying and/or alarm systems lacks
14 Emergency lights lacks
15 Unwanted smoke and heat transmission
16
Extinguishing system lacks (hydrants,
extinguishers, etc.)
17
Communication system lacks (phones, radio,
etc.)
18 Other
1 Lacking in information, formation or training
2 Lacking in safety measures control
3 Lacking in systems and equipment maintenance
4
Lacking in emergency management/safety
regulations
5 Prohibition and use limitation non-control
6 Inadequate cleaning
G
Organisational aspects
lacks
7 Other
2. Exposed people and/ or goods identification
Yes No N.A.
1 Wide place with workers presence
2 Secluded workers
3 Large staff
4 Sleeping people
5 Customers/guests crowding
6 Workers presence during day hours
7 Workers presence during night hours
8 Presence of disabled
9 Workers exposed to specific risks
10 External company workers
H Exposed people
11 Other
1 Buildings/area
2 External construction
3 Valuable goods
I Exposed goods
4 Other
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3. Risk assessment
See points D - E - F - G
Hazard
HAZARD 0: no combustible materials or in very poor amount, no sources of
ignition, no hot works
HAZARD 1: presence of combustible materials, presence of sources of
ignition regardless of preventive measures adopted
See points H I
Exposure level
Exposure level 1: damages to goods are possible; people not exposed
Exposure level 2: accidents to people and damages to goods are possible;
Exposure level 3: deaths are possible; accidents to people and damages to
goods
LOW/NORMAL/HIGH
J
Risk level
Risk 1: Low
Risk 2: Normal
Risk 3: High
4. Risks reduction
Yes No N.A.
1 Correct area use
2 Fire load limitation
3 Facilities, machinery and equipment compliant
4 Correct systems and equipment maintenance
5
Correct emergency systems and equipment
maintenance
6 Presence of ventilation systems
7 Prohibition and use limitation respect
K Prevention
8 Instruction for correct fire prevention behaviour
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1 Extinguishers correctly maintained
2 Fixed operative extinguishing systems
3 Operative surveying system
4 Operative alarm/communication system
5 Operative emergency lights system
6 Operative smoke control systems
7 Emergency management procedures
8 Evacuation and emergency plans
9 Explicit tasks and responsibilities
L Active protection
10 Other
1 Correct activity location
2 Suitable safety distances
3 Load bearing suitable to fire load
4 Correct ventilation/aeration
6 Surfaces with lesser resistance
7 Correct materials fire reaction
M Passive protection
8 Suitable escape ways
5. Fire safety and evacuation administrators
During day hours YES NO Number:
during night hours YES NO Number: N
other YES NO Number:
NOTES
6. Safety measures adequacy
Yes No N.A.
Fire revelation and alarm reliable (automatic and visual)
During day hours
During night hours
Other
Immediate fire suppression reliable (with fire extinguishers and other
similar)
During day hours
During night hours
Other
O
Residual risk management
procedures reliability
Fire separation reliable (compartimentation)
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During day hours
During night hours
Other
Emergency management reliable (evacuation plan)
During day hours
During night hours
Other
Delayed fire suppression reliable (professional fire fighters)
During day hours
During night hours
Other
Reduction of fire opportunities
During day hours
During night hours
Other
Occupant can leave the work or be rescued by other means
During day hours
During night hours
Other
Suitable safety for the rescue teams
During day hours
During night hours
Other
Limitation of smoke and fire spreading within the work
During day hours
During night hours
Other
Limitation of the spread of fire to neighbouring construction
During day hours
During night hours
Other
Load bearing capacity assumed for a periood of time
During day hours
During night hours
P
Achievement of the safety
objectives of the
interpretative document
no. 2 Safety in case of
fire Directive 106/89/CE
Other
7. Conclusions
The residual risk, considering all the above informations, is:
ACCEPTABLE/UNACCEPTABLE
Notes:
Q Residual risk
