Fire & Explosion Risk Assessment (FERA) is a crucial safety compliance process for facilities handling flammable, combustible, or reactive substances. This guide outlines what UAE businesses must do to be compliant and mitigate risk.
Last Update: October 7, 2025
FERA (Fire & Explosion Risk Assessment) is a quantitative risk assessment method used in high‑hazard facilities (e.g. oil & gas, petrochemical, chemical plants, storage terminals) to identify potential fire or explosion scenarios, evaluate their likelihood and severity, and recommend mitigation. It supports compliance with UAE safety and civil defense regulations, protecting personnel, assets, and environment.
Civil Defense in each emirate may require FERA for licensing, approvals, or permit renewals.
Industrial Safety Regulations and Municipal/Free Zone authorities often require FERA submissions.
Federal Law No. 21 of 2001 (Civil Defence Law) mandates fire protection and emergency readiness.
Oil & gas, petrochemical, and storage facilities face stricter sectoral rules for FERA compliance.
Hazard Identification (HAZID/HAZOP): Identify fire, explosion, leak, ignition scenarios.
Scenario Modeling (LOPA, Fault Tree, Event Tree): Quantitative frequency and consequence assessment.
Consequence Analysis: Overpressure, thermal flux, toxic release estimates.
Risk Criteria: Compare to acceptable limits set by regulators or industry standards.
Mitigation Measures: Fire protection, detection, isolation, suppression systems.
Risk Reduction Verification: Demonstrate residual risk is acceptable.
Layers of Protection: Independent protection systems, safety integrity levels.
Documentation & Reporting: Comprehensive FERA report for authorities.
Periodic Review: Revalidate after process/layout changes or at required intervals.
Follow UAE FERA steps: assess risks, submit reports, and implement safety measures.
Engage qualified consultants experienced with UAE standards.
Collect data & conduct site survey (layouts, inventories, equipment, incidents).
Model scenarios & risks with accepted software (PHAST, ALOHA, FRED).
Recommend mitigation measures to reduce unacceptable risks.
Draft & submit FERA report with hazard maps and risk tables.
Submit to authorities (Civil Defense, regulator, municipality) for approval.
Implement mitigation measures and carry out audits.
Update FERA upon process changes, expansions, or regulatory updates.
Ensuring data quality and validated assumptions.
Accounting for cascading failures between equipment.
Reliability of mitigation systems (maintenance, testing).
Integrating with wider safety/environmental systems.
Meeting regulator expectations with transparent, auditable reporting.
Weeks 1–2: Engage consultant
Weeks 2–4: Data collection & audit
Weeks 4–8: Scenario modeling & draft report
Weeks 8–10: Review and iterations
Week 10: Submission to authority
Weeks 11–14: Authority review
Weeks 14–20: Implement mitigation
Week 20+: Final acceptance / certification
At MP Elites Consulting, we support UAE businesses in meeting all Fire & Explosion Risk Assessment (FERA) obligations with precision and efficiency. Our compliance experts coordinate end-to-end — from risk assessment and documentation to Civil Defense submissions — ensuring your facility meets safety standards and achieves full regulatory approval.
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