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#1 Posted : 06 May 2004 12:22:00(UTC)
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Posted By Anthony Cassidy
In conducting fire risk assessments I have found it difficult to define the the fire severity and an appropriate rating (so that it can be multiplied by the likelyhood). Nevertheless I used the following;

2. Negligible - Causing a minor fire that allows the work to continue work after the fire has been extinguished. Combustible fuel levels are low. The duration of the stoppage is such that the normal flow of work is not seriously interrupted


3. Minor - Renders that particular area temporarily unusable but the fire would be contained using portable fire extinguishers.


4. Major - The fire is likely to spread to another area and the Fire Brigade is required to attend, detection times would be long.


5 Catastrophic - The fire would quickly spread and a major fire evolves.

Has anyone else tried to categorize fire severity in this way?

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#2 Posted : 07 May 2004 09:59:00(UTC)
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Posted By Terry Smyth
Unless your premises are protected by an automatic fire alarm system, whereby a fire can be detected immediately, you should always think of the worst possible scenario, and determine the extent of the likelyhood of a fire developing undetected to give a rating of risk.
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#3 Posted : 07 May 2004 10:42:00(UTC)
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Posted By Adam Courlander
The following is from Croners Fire Record Keeping Book.

Likelihood of fire outbreak

3 High when it is certain, or near certain that a fire will occur
2 Normal when a fire will occur occasionally
1 Low when a fire will seldom occur

Harm Potential

3 High when it is very likely harm will occur e.g. multiple deaths, major injuries severe structural damage
2 Normal when it is possible harm will occur e.g. possible death, slight injuries, localised structural damage
1 Low when it is unlikely harm will occur e.g. no deaths, slight injuries,localised structural damage

As you know multiply likelihood by harm

results would be

High Risk 6-9
Normal Risk3-4
Low Risk 1-2

Hope this is helpful.

Adam
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#4 Posted : 07 May 2004 18:05:00(UTC)
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Posted By Roy Gladwell
Anthony

How about

Fire Hazard Severity Value
Negligible 1
Slight 2
Moderate 3
Severe 4
Very Severe 5
Catastrophic 6

Fire Risk Value
Unlikely 1
Possible 2
Quite Possible 3
Likely 4
Very Likely 5
Almost certain 6


Ways of defining Severity

Severity By Harm

Negligible Minor bruises/discomfort
Slight Some minor injuries
Moderate Many minor injuries
Severe Some major injuries
Very severe Many major injuries & < 5 deaths
Catastrophic 5 or more deaths


Severity By Damage

Negligible Slight smoke damage
Slight Loss / damage to some equipment
Moderate Loss to one floor of a building
Severe Whole building damage
Very servere Total loss of whole building
Catastrophic Loss of whole site

Ways of defining severity by harm
interruption of production

1 = a few hours
2 = one day
3 = one week
4 = one month
5 = up to six months
6 = 6-12 months

Ways of defining severity by damage
loss of assets

1 = £100 or less
2 = £101 - £500
3 = £501 - £1000
4 = £1001 - £500K
5 = £500K - £1M
6 = Multi £1M


hope this helps

If you require any more information e mail me direct

ROY


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