Fire Risk Analysis

Recommended Prerequisites

1^st cycle.

Teaching Methods

Teaching methods of theoretical lessons aim at the global learning of the course. These lessons are taught based on presentations and basic bibliography, using audiovisual means. Students are called to discuss concepts, key subjects and of more complexity. At the end of each subject that constitute the program of the course a synthesis is made and some problems are proposed, both theoretical and practical, so that students can reflect on these subjects, mature concepts and do some practical exercises.

Learning Outcomes

In most situations fire safety is accomplished by application of specific legislation on this subject. However, in certain circumstances the application of the legislation is impossible. These situations are usually associated with old buildings or new buildings for which the legislation does not address. In such cases it is necessary to use analytical or simulation models to evaluate the safety conditions and consequently the fire risk.

Therefore, one of the objectives of this course is to allow a systematic approach to fire risk and expertise of methods for that purpose, allowing an analysis of various solutions in order to choose the most appropriate.

The other objective is to familiarize students with simulation models that integrate multiple faces of the fire safety in order to be able to proceed with its application to a specific project and also to articulate outcomes coming from different models that simulate different aspects of products resulting from a fire.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Introduction
2. Concepts of risk management
3. Preliminary risk analysis
4. Defining risk thresholds
5. Methods for risk analysis
6. Decision support systems
7. Optimizing of the combination between the passive and active protection measures
8. Regulatory in the field of fire risk analysis
9. Presentation of some integrated models for simulating the development of the fire and building evacuation
10. Fire insurance.

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Individual work: 40.0%
Exam: 60.0%

Bibliography

American Institute of Chemical Engineers – Guidelines for Chemical Process Quantitative Risk Analysis.  AICHE, New York, USA, 1989.

Brannigan, V. M.; Dardis, R. – Legal and Economic Criteria for Test-Based Fire Risk Assessment. Fire Risk Assessment. Castino/Harmathy ed., p. 59-73, 1980.

Cohn, B. M. – Formulating Acceptable Levels of Fire Risk. Fire Risk Assessment. Castino/Harmathy ed., 1980.

Head, G. L.; Horn, S. – Essentials of the Risk Management Process. Insurance Institute of America, USA, 1991.

Ling, W. C. T.; Williamson, R. B. – Using Fire Tests for Quantitative Risk Analysis.  Fire Risk Assessment, Castino/Marmathy, Editors, p. 38-58, 1980.

NFPA; The Fire Protection Handbook, National Fire Protection Association, Boston, 1980.

Brannigan, V. M.; Dardis, R. – Legal and Economic Criteria for Test-Based Fire Risk Assessment. Fire Risk Assessment. Castino/Harmathy ed., p. 59-73, 1980.

Baldwin, R.; Thomas, P. H. – Passive and Active Protection. The Optimum Combination. Fire Technology, Vol. 10, nº 2, May, p. 140-146, 1974.

Cohn, B. M. – Formulating Acceptable Levels of Fire Risk. Fire Risk Assessment. Castino/Harmathy Editors, 1980, p. 28-36.