Codes and standards published by NFPA are displayed as read-only under license from NFPA solely for use within this system. NFPA material may not be downloaded, printed, reproduced, or transferred.

Correctly evaluate the appropriateness and execution of a fire risk assessment for a fire safety problem with guidance in NFPA 551.

Developed for AHJs, insurance professionals, building owners, and anyone who reviews or conducts fire risk assessments, NFPA 551: Guide for the Evaluation of Fire Risk Assessments identifies the various types of fire risk assessment methods and describes the properties these methods should possess.

NFPA 551 helps AHJs and others understand the basis for fire assessments and learn how to confidently:

• Apply risk-informed decision making for fire safety
• Select fire scenarios, identify representative challenging scenarios, and group such scenarios into clusters for the purposes of conducting more effective consequence analysis
• Develop appropriate documentation to accompany a fire risk assessment
• Evaluate qualifications of those conducting a fire risk assessment

Comprehensive coverage in the 2016 edition includes:

• Guidance on how to address uncertainty when conducting a fire risk assessment
• Factors to consider when conducting or reviewing a fire risk assessment
• Guidance on how to address the changing effectiveness of fire protection equipment, features, programs, and procedures
• Discussion on the role of qualitative, semi-quantitative likelihood, semi-quantitative consequence, and quantitative methods in a fire risk assessment
• Discussion on cost-benefit analysis
• Details about proper documentation and elements of a fire risk assessment
• Guidance on applying risk-informed decision making for various fire safety goals including the preservation of heritage resources