Occupied Building Risk Assessment (OBRA)

Occupied Building Risk Assessment (OBRA) evaluates the risks posed to personnel inside buildings on or near hazardous facilities. By quantifying potential impacts from explosions, fires, toxic releases, and escalation events, OBRA supports decisions on building design, occupancy limits, siting, and emergency response strategies. It plays a critical role in meeting guidance such as API RP 752/753, CIA, Seveso III and regulations such as COMAH, helping safeguard life, ensure business continuity, and strengthen major accident hazard management.

Service information

Analyse overpressure, impulse, thermal radiation, and toxic exposure risks to occupied buildings and personnel
Conduct vulnerability assessments of building structures under blast, fire, and toxic scenarios
Assess feasibility, performance, and limitations of shelter-in-place (SIP) arrangements, including ventilation shutdown reliability and effectiveness
Define robust building design criteria, including blast resistance, gas-tightness, fire resistance, and occupant protection measures
Establish safe siting for control rooms, emergency response centres, and other critical buildings using quantitative risk assessment (QRA) insights
Integrate OBRA into safety cases and COMAH Safety Reports
Develop or recommend mitigation strategies, such as relocation, structural upgrades, occupancy management, or enhanced emergency procedures

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