Concept Tree

NFPA 550 Guide to the Fire Safety Concepts Tree. National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA. 

The methodology outlined in this chapter follows that in Cuidelines for Chemical Process Quantitative Risk Analysis (CCPS, 2000). NFPA 550 Cu/de to the Fire Safety Concept Tree provides another example of fire risk assessment. There are three keys to a successful fire risk assessment ... 

Fire safety codes and regulations have requirements that are based on small heat source ignition tests. The objective of these requirements is to greatly reduce the probability of a relatively benign ignition source causing a major catastrophic lire (first strategy in the NFPA 550 Fire Concepts Tree). 

The concept tree helps finding new ideas in several ways ... 

In a further stage use the concept tree to tidy up ideas ... 

Figure 7-12 shows a concept tree of ideas that are already in use to avoid the problems of tanker fouling. Note that just drawing this provokes associations. Think of a series of release mechanisms of chemicals, and of whole groups of chemicals that might be used, or of any combination of these. 

Figure 7-12 Concept tree of existing anti-fouling concepts...

By using an existing idea as a source of inspiration for untapped ideas. Concept Tree can lead you to a unique approach to an old problem. It s also valuable if your original idea is too general, has too many limitations, or is not actionable. 

Scenario Let s say we want to improve our company s image. We have a few broad ideas along these lines, but we can use the Concept Tree technique to generate many actionable ideas. 

On a white board or flip chart, write the JTBD (see Jobs to Be Done, Technique 1). In our example, we are tasked with the rather broad job of improving the company s image. We could use Job Scoping (Technique 7) or Nine Windows (Technique 6) to better define this job, but since we have a few general ideas for meeting this JTBD, let s see where Concept Tree takes us. 

Concepts are the connecting points between your original idea and the alternative ideas that the Concept Tree helps you generate. 

EXHIBIT 20.1 In this example, we started with three general ideas for improving the company s image. Using Concept Tree for only one of these ideas (reduce environmentai impact), we generated 19 ideas that are more specific and actionable than our original ideas. 

Factory Mutual System, Approval Guide 1995. Norwood, MA, 1996 National Fire Protection Association, Fire Prevention Code. NFPA 1, Quincy, MA, 1997 National Fire Protection Association, Guide to the Fire Safety Concepts Tree. NFPA 550, Quincy, MA, 1995... 

A logic diagram that spans the entire realm of fire safety measures. It is defined in National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 550, Guide to the Fire Safety Concepts Tree, which describes its structure, application, and limitations. 

NFPA 550, Guide to Fire Safety Concepts Tree See Fire Safety Concepts Tree. 

Figure 36-10. Upper levels of the fire safety concepts tree. (Reprinted with permission from the Fire Protection Handbook. 19th ed., 2003, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA, 02169.)...

NFPA has developed a Fire Safety Concepts Tree At the top of the tree are fire safety objectives, followed by actions to achieve the objectives. Elements of the tree connect using AND and OR gates, similar to fault tree analysis (Figure 36-10). A Fire Safety Concepts Tree can help analyze buildings and designs using qualitative and quantitative procedures. 

Explain the Fire Safety Concepts Tree method. 

The fire safety concepts tree is a simple way to evaluate fire safety within structures where the ultimate objective or goal is to save lives from fire (Figure 12.1). It is a simple decision framework that outlines the various avenues that can be taken to accomplish the main objective. The main objective—saving lives—can be attained by either preventing the ignition of the fire or managing the impact of the fire. 

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