Risk analysis (Topic: 15021)

Situations where the regulations do not cover the actual case or there are an opportunity for discussing the requirement a risk analysis is an useful tool.

Before a risk analysis is to be performed all information regarding the case must be collected.

Example :

Escape stair towers on some oil platforms in the North Sea are an example where the use of a risk analysis led to the decision of using structural aluminium alloy.

The input for the risk analysis was the material properties of the aluminium alloys used. The fire scenario including the thermal load and the production of the toxic gasses and the smoke, the lay out of all escape routes and the environmental conditions. The conclusion from the risk analysis was that if the aluminium alloy escape stair tower was engulfed either in smoke/toxic gasses or in flames, it was useless and perilous as an escape way long before the structural aluminium was going to collapse. The lay out of the escape routes always secured at least one safe escape way.