Fire risk indexing

Abstract

Fire risk indexing is a link between fire science and fire safety. As we learn more about the behavior of fire, it is important that we implement new knowledge to meet fire safety goals and objectives. One of the barriers to implementing new technology is the lack of structured fire safety decision making. Fire risk indexing is evolving as a method of evaluating fire safety that is valuable in assimilating research results. Fire safety decisions often have to be made under conditions where the data are sparse and uncertain. The technical attributes of fire risk are very complex and normally involve a network of interacting components. These interactions are generally nonlinear and multidimensional. However, complexity and sparseness of data do not preclude useful and valid approaches. Such circumstances are not unusual in decision making in business or other risk venues. (The space program illustrates how success can be achieved when there are few relevant data). However, detailed risk assessment can be an expensive and labor-intensive process, and there is considerable room for improving the presentation of results. Indexing can provide a cost-effective means of risk evaluation that is both useful and valid.