A Discussion of Fire Risk Assessment

Fire standards have been characterized in the ASTM Policy on Fire Standards (1979) as either fire risk assessment standards or fire test standards. Although the need for fire risk assessment standards is evident, there is a lack of understanding of what a fire risk assessment standard is and how it is obtained. The role of ASTM Subcommittee E05.91 on Planning and Review, a subcommittee of ASTM Committee E-5 on Fire Standards, and its success in answering these questions is described. Related subjects such as definitions of risk, hazard, and safety, the effect of proximity, and determination of the potential for harm are discussed.