Computerized Fire Risk Assessment Models have been proposed for regulatory use. The models normally are used to examine alternative designs to determine whether they are equivalent to standard code approved Structures. However, mathematical equivalence in a model may not constitute social or technical equivalence, if the assumptions and methods used in the model are not property specified. Regulatory Effectiveness Analysis is a tool which can be used to determine whether the model satisfies the regulator's legal requirements, and whether it is properly responsive to public judgments of fire safety. Model builders should expect detailed examination of the specifications and data used in the model, and be prepared to show competent verification and validation of the model results.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Mowrer, F.W.1991. "Integration of Fire Models with the Design Process ," in Fire Protection Handbook, A. E. Cote, ed., NFPA17th Ed 10:113-123.
2.
Roux, H.J.1982. "A Discussion of Fire Risk Assessment," in Fire Risk Assessment, ASTM STP 762, G. T. Castino and T. Z. Harmathy, eds., American Society For Testing and Materials.
3.
Rowe, W.D.1987. "Standardizing Safety: Is Risk Assessment a Viable Tool ?" ASTM Standardization News, June 1987 , pp. 38-41.
4.
Hall, J.R.1991. "Fire Risk Analysis," in Fire Protection Handbook, A. E. Cote, ed., NFPA17th Ed.
5.
Gas Appliance Mfrs. Assn., Inc. v. DOE, 998 F.2d 1041; (USCCA DC 1993).
6.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.1994. Proceedings of Workshop 1 Advanced Topics in Risk and Reliability Analysis , A. Mosleh, N. Siu, C. Smidts and C. Nureg, eds., CP-0138.
7.
Perrow, C.1984. Normal Accidents: Living With High Risk Environments , Basic Books.
8.
Beck, V.R.1991. "Fire Safety System Design Using Risk Assessment Models: Developments in Australia." Proceedings of the Third International Symposium on Fire Safety Science, pp. 45-59.
9.
Building Regulatory Review Task Force.1991. "Micro Economic Reform: Fire Regulation," Building Regulation Review, May.
10.
Thomas, I.R. , I.D. Bennetts, S.L. Poon and J.A. Sims.1992. The Effect of Fire in the Building at 140 William Street: A Risk Assessment, Broken Hill Proprietary Co., Australia.
Brannigan, V.M.1983. "Applying New Laws to Existing Buildings: Retrospective Fire Safety Codes" J. of Urban Law, 60:447-472.
13.
Brannigan, V.M. and R. Dardis.1982. "Legal and Economic Criteria for Test-Based Fire Risk Assessment," Fire Risk Assessment, ASTM STP 762, G. T. Castino and T. Z. Harmathy , eds., American Society for Testing and Materials , pp. 59-74.
14.
Brannigan, V.1992. "Protecting the Privacy of Patient Records in Clinical Networks: A Regulatory Effectiveness Analysis," in Extended Clinical Consulting by Hospital Computer Networks, D. Parsons, C. M. Fleischer and R. A. Greenes, eds., New York Academy of Sciences 670:190-201.
15.
Clark, F.B., R. W. Bukowski, S. W. Stiefel, J. R. Hall and S.A. Steele.1990. The National Fire Risk Assessment Research Project (5 volumes) National Fire Protection Research Foundation.
16.
Kmenta, W.1971. Elements of Econometrics, New York : McMillan.
17.
Ferguson, C.E. and J.C. Gould.1975. Microeconomic Theory , IrwinHome-wood, IL.
18.
Brannigan, V. and C. Meeks.1991. "European Unification, Single Markets and Product Safety: the American Experience with Federal/State Regulation of Housing Safety," Journal of Consumer Policy14:63-86.
19.
1982. "Fire at the MGM Grand Hotel," Fire Journal, Jan.:19-37.
20.
Brannigan, V., V. Bier and C. Berg.1992. " Risk, Statistical Inference, and the Law of Evidence: The Use of Epidemiological Data in Toxic Tort Cases ," Journal of Risk Analysis, 12:343-351.
21.
Lancaster, K.J.1966. "A New Approach to Consumer Theory," J. of Political Economy, 14:132-157.
22.
Mosleh, A. and V. Bier.1992. "On Decomposition and Aggregation Error in Estimation: Some Basic Principles and Examples," J. of Risk Analysis, 12(2):203-214.
23.
Casti, J.L.1990. Searching for Certainty: What Scientists Can Know About the Future," New York: William Morrow and Ca
