FRAME Calculation examples book. - FRAME Fire Risk Assessment ...

F.R.A.M.E.
Content factor: 1 M. Euro c=0.00
environment factor r r= 0.30
dependency factor d d= 0.50
Acceptable Risks A= 0.58 A1= 0.28 A2 =0.98
Water supplies adequate W=1.00
Normal protection limited training, nearest
N = 0.90
station at less than 10
min
Special Protection part time fire brigade S= 1.34
Fire resistance Structure: 30
F=1.28
Walls: 30
Ceiling:30
Partitions:30
Escape protection sub compartments,
U=1.80
adequate signalisation
Salvage sub compartments Y=1.10
Calculated Risks: R= 2.48 R1= 3.50 R2=1.38
Conclusion:
A catastrophe could be expected.
Notes.
1. The report indicates a capacity of 148 residents. With staff and visitors an occupancy load of
350 persons could be estimated, below the 486 based on code occupant load numbers. A lower
number of occupants would still give an unacceptable high risk level.
2. The smoke detectors in corridors were not accounted for as those are not the critical areas
(the rooms should be considered as critical) .
3. New nursing homes of this type would require sprinkler protection according to NFPA 101.
Adding sprinkler protection would reduce the risk levels to : R=1.10 , R1=1.40 and R2=0.66 .
This means that FRAME does not consider adding sprinklers as adequate enough. Additionally
automatic smoke detection would be required to get an acceptable level of safety for the
occupants. This is because of the low mobility of the residents which requires a fast detection
and reaction.
On the other hand, if the 4 wings of the building were properly separated by compartment
walls and fire doors, whereby the number of people at risk would be below 100, a smoke
detection system would provide adequate protection according to FRAME.
Case study 15. A clue for arson : Office in Bristol (UK), June 1 st , 1989.
Reference : Fire Prevention 232, September 1990
FRAME calculation :
Item explanation (sub) factor Value Result
Type of occupancy Bristol computer suite 1989
Fire load immobile Qi 300
Fire load mobile Qm 600 q=1.42
Temperature rise computers T 100
Average dimension m 0.3
Reaction to fire M 2 i=1.15
Length l 100
Width b 30 g=0.74
Level E 5 e=1.60
Height of room h 4
Ventilation k 0.5 % v=1.02
Access direction Z 3
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