2016/17 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

CAPE5510M Fire Risk Assessment and Management

15 creditsClass Size: 30

Module manager: Dr H N Phylaktou
Email: h.n.phylaktou@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2016/17

Module replaces

PEME5530M Fire Risk Assessment and Management

This module is not approved as an Elective

Objectives

On completion of this module, participants should have gained a knowledge of risk assessment concepts, techniques and the data required for an evaluation of fire risk in most buildings/facilities.

Specifically during the module the participants will be provided with a general framework for considering the fire risk assessment of a property (and to an extent the management of fire risk).

With qualitative, semi-qualitative and quantitative methods addressed in turn, participants should be able to differentiate between these methods, explain their essential theoretical basis and associated strengths and weaknesses. The techniques and concepts will be illustrated through examination of detailed case studies.

For the more complex quantitative methods, participants will review and practice the techniques of the under-pinning mathematical, statistical and probabilistic techniques.

Participants will be introduced to the pragmatic concepts of risk mitigation and ALARP, and will be able to apply these theories through consequence analysis and other decision making management tools.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module students should:
- have an understanding of the societal approach for fire risk – including fire law, corporate governance, building regulations and the use of local fire policies and procedures.
- have a knowledge of fire statistics for the UK, including the frequency and outcome of attended fires in terms of ignition source, fire spread and injury caused.
- have a knowledge of the mathematics which underpins the quantitative tools for fire risk assessment.
- be aware of the range and application of engineering tools to assess and quantify risk i.e., qualitative and quantitative methods and those which are a mix of the two.
- have a knowledge of how different industries approach their fire risk assessments.

On completing this module, students will be able to:
- compare and contrast ‘fire risk’ to other risks to people and property in society.
- apply a number of tools and techniques to quantify fire risk and be aware of their relative strengths and weaknesses.
- explain the role and application of associated approaches and techniques such as ALARP and sensitivity analysis and how risk informed decision making can be achieved.
- make basic financial discounting calculations to assess the value of fire prevention and mitigation measures.

Syllabus

- Corporate governance
- Risk management
- Review of relevant legislation
- Hazard & risk
- Qualitative methods (structured and unstructured)
- Semi-quantitative methods (points schemes and matrix)
- Probabilistic methods
- Probabilistic distributions (log-normal and Pareto)
- Full quantitative fire risk assessment
- Set theory
- Boolean logic
- Logic gates
- Fault trees
- Reliability and availability of systems
- Logic trees
- Consequence analysis
- Modelling of fire events
- Control volume models
- Building tenability
- Risk informed decision making
- Industry specific applications, nuclear, chemical, offshore, transport and tunnels.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Independent Learning	1	5.00	5.00
Independent online learning hours			63.00
Private study hours			82.00
Total Contact hours			5.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

Module delivery:
Students complete nine online units over a ten week period; attendance at Leeds is not a requirement.
The course material is 'phase released' i.e., made available one unit at a time on a weekly basis for the first 9 weeks.
Students are expected to work through the units at their own pace (but have access to a 'suggested timetable' for their progress).

Private study:
2 hours reviewing of other recommended materials per unit: 18 hours
Practice on worked examples in each of 9 units: 20 hours
Coursework: 20 hours
Revision: 24 hours

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

A week by week suggested 'plan of study' is made available online at the start of the module.
Two non-assessed coursework exercises in the first two weeks are followed by 'compulsory' feedback at the completion of Unit 3. A 'buffer week' is built in at the end of week five so that students can either rest from their studies or 'catch up' as appropriate. The students are subsequently required to report reaching another course milestone at the end of Unit 7.
Detailed analysis of online 'access logs' is not planned but these may be referred to if student progress is of concern.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
In-course Assessment	Open book test	50.00
Assignment	Part 1 750 words	10.00
Assignment	Part 2 1,000 words	20.00
Assignment	Part 3 3,000 words	20.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 30/03/2015

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