Case Studies

Fire-Water Risk Assessment & Testing

TEAM

Environmental Management Team

Sector

Environmental

Industrial & Process

Related Services

Fire-Water Risk Assessment, EPA licensing

People To Contact

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Overview of service

In 2019, following a period of public consultation and input from the Fire Service, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a document titled “Guidance Note to Industry on Fire Water Retention Facilities”. This guidance replaces the EPA Guidance Note “Draft Guidance Note to Industry on the Requirements for Fire-Water Retention Facilities”, initially published in 1995.

The aim of a Fire-Water Risk Assessment (FWRA) is to:

Review and update the existing FWRA under the updated EPA Guidance.
Calculate the volume of fire-water retention required at a given site.
Evaluate the suitability of the existing drainage capacity at a given site for fire-water retention.
Provide recommendations of suitable options to ensure adequate fire-water retention storage is present on-site.

Environmental Characterisation of the site, Fire Safety Management, Site Zoning, Fire-water Risk Assessment and Fire-water Retention Capacity & Systems are all considered in the assessment of Fire-water retention on site.

The following site-specific documentation is reviewed in compiling an FWRA;

Environmental Liabilities Risk Assessment (ELRA)
Closure, Restoration and Aftercare Management Plan (CRAMP)
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for substances stored on-site
Fire Certs for buildings located on-site
Emergency Response Procedure
Site Layout Drawing
Site Drainage Plan
Bund Register

As outlined in the ELRA, the worst-case scenario fire event was used in estimating the required volume for fire-water retention at the site.

Project challenges

Multidisciplinary approach

The most common challenge relating to fire-water retention is retention volume. When it has been confirmed that there is a retention deficit at a site, this must be considered an environmental compliance issue and a civil engineering project.

The technical flexibility and diversity available across our multidisciplinary team are a tangible benefit of the ORS multidisciplinary service offering. ORS provides Feasibility Studies through detailed design for civil works, including pumping, sumps and storage tanks, to ensure compliance with a site’s environmental licence or permit.

Leads

Key Contacts

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John Brennan

Managing Director
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Luke Martin

Associate and Joint Environmental Lead
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Alan Kiernan

Associate and Joint Environmental Lead

N5 Westport to Turlough Road

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