Fires cause severe destruction, substantial costs, and often results in extended periods of inactivity for businesses. In a recent report, the National Fire Protection Association said that fires in non-residential buildings resulted in property damage totaling $4 billion in 2022 – representing a 12% year-over-year increase. Additionally, there was a 15% increase in fatalities, a 27% increase in injuries, and a 7% increase in direct property damage.
With the stakes so high, it’s critical to identify all fire risks in your facility and develop solid mitigation strategies. An independent fire risk engineering partner can help. Fire risk engineering uses a combination of science and practical knowledge to protect businesses and their people from fire and smoke.
A core service is fire risk assessments, which identify fire hazards, assess the likelihood of a fire starting, evaluate the potential consequences, and determine the adequacy of existing fire safety measures. For engineers, this process is not just a cursory overview but a detailed scrutiny that integrates fire science, building design, and safety regulations.
Read on to learn more about the fire risk assessment method for engineering, ISO standards to watch, and high-risk groups to consider when implementing protections.
A fire risk assessment involves recognizing all potential fire hazards within a project, which could include flammable materials, heat sources, and any conditions that may contribute to a fire starting or spreading. Once hazards are identified, fire risk engineers and risk managers estimate the likelihood of a fire breaking out and the possible impact to people, property, and the environment. Then comes the proposing of safety measures based on the findings. These can range from installing fire alarms and sprinklers to redesigning electrical systems.
The fire risk assessment method for engineering involves a series of steps tailored to the complexity and specific needs of the engineering project. It typically follows this sequence:
Pre-assessment: Gathering all necessary information about the building or project, including plans, materials used, occupancy details, statements of value (SOV), COPE data, electrical schematics, and more.
On-site inspection: Engineers and fire safety experts conduct a thorough inspection to identify potential fire hazards and evaluate the effectiveness of existing fire safety measures.
Risk analysis: Utilizing engineering judgment and fire risk models, the identified hazards are analyzed to determine the likelihood of occurrence and potential consequences.
Documentation and reporting: All findings are meticulously documented, detailing the risks identified, the analysis conducted, loss estimates, and the recommended fire safety measures. Top fire risk engineering companies provide findings in an interactive database showcasing the impact of mitigation efforts.
Implementation of recommendations: The engineering team collaborates with stakeholders to incorporate the recommended fire safety measures into design, construction, or operational processes.
Review and update: A fire risk assessment is a dynamic process; as such, the assessment is reviewed and updated regularly, especially when there are changes to the building, its use, or occupancy.
There are many standards regulating fire safety engineering. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an independent, non-governmental international organization that develops standards to ensure the quality, safety, efficiency, and interoperability of products, services, and systems. Here are some relevant ISO standards to consider.
ISO 31000:2018 - Risk Management Guidelines. While not solely focused on fire risk, this standard provides principles, a framework, and a process for managing risk that can be applied to all types of risks, including fire.
ISO 22301:2019 - Security and Resilience - Business Continuity Management Systems. This standard emphasizes the importance of preparedness and continuity in the event of a fire.
ISO/TS 16733-1:2020 - Fire Safety Engineering - Fire Risk Assessment - Part 1. This technical specification provides guidelines on conducting fire risk assessments in alignment with fire safety engineering principles.
ISO 20710-1:2022 - Fire Safety Engineering. This series provides information on active fire protection systems according to the design, implementation, and maintenance described in ISO 23932-1.
In the commercial and industrial sectors, certain individuals may be more susceptible to fire risks due to the nature of their work, their location within a facility, or specific occupational vulnerabilities. The fire risk assessment method for engineering should involve identifying and protecting these individuals.
High-risk groups in business and industrial environments often include:
Employees with disabilities: Workers with mobility, sensory, or cognitive disabilities may require additional assistance and accommodations to safely evacuate during a fire.
Maintenance and night staff: Individuals working in isolation, such as maintenance or night shift workers, may not have immediate access to emergency support or may not be promptly notified about a fire outbreak.
Industrial workers: Those working with flammable materials or in areas with higher fire loads, such as manufacturing plants, chemical processing facilities, or commercial kitchens inherently face greater risks.
Temporary workers or contractors: These groups may be unfamiliar with the specific fire safety protocols and evacuation routes of the workplace, increasing their vulnerability during a fire emergency.
New employees: With job-hopping and retirements becoming more common, you may find newer workers in your facilities. Before they are fully trained, they may have more propensity for errors or accidents that lead to fires.
To adequately protect high-risk groups in commercial and industrial settings, several engineering solutions can be implemented like customized alarm systems that cater to different needs – such as visual alarms for the hearing impaired, or alarms with vocal instructions for areas with high ambient noise. Another solution is to design workplaces with universally accessible evacuation routes, including wide corridors, ramps instead of stairs where possible, and clearly marked exits. Also, it’s critical to provide regular, tailored fire safety training sessions that educate all employees, with particular emphasis on empowering high-risk groups with the knowledge and tools they need.
The leading cause of fire is electrical hazards and failures. If you want to protect yourself, check out our eBook How to Protect Against Electrical Fire Losses. It explains the dangers of electrical fires, the most effective ways to assess risk, arc flash boundaries, PPE requirements, and more. Get it now.
Site Selector
Global
Americas
Asia
Europe
Middle East and Africa
