Fire Risk Assessment in an Educational Environment using the Fire Risk Assessment Method for Engineers (FRAME)

Abstract

Background and Aim: This study tries to assess the risk level of fire in an educational environment by FRAME software in a practical method. Then, some effective strategies were proposed to reduce the risk level of fire and secure the environment as much as possible.

Methods: In this practical study, the fire risk assessment was carried out in an educational environment by Fire Risk Assessment Method for Engineers (FRAME) ؛ this risk assessment was done in three sections including building and contents, residents and activities. It was tried to gain the highest fire security for the educational environment by using practical and logical control measures. Required data was gathered by studying and monitoring the situation, observation, interview, referring to available documents and measuring some parameters, regulatory inventory and checklist according to the requirements of the FRAME executive instruction. The calculation was done by FRAME software.

Results: The results showed the risk levels of fire for the educational environment were unacceptable in residents (R=2.7) and activities (R=3.8) sections; although some parts such as laboratories, libraries and partitioning parts in the building section had a high-risk level (R> 1). Some preventive measures were recommended for reducing the risk level of fire and improving the security of situation by considering some effective factors؛ the results showed a significant reduction in the risk level of fire in all three sections within the acceptable level (R< 1).

Conclusion: The results showed that the FRAME method can assess and determine the quantity of risk level and provide suitable controlling methods to improve the security of fire in the educational environment by considering the opportunities and challenges of the existing environment.