Updating the national average figures for likelihood and severity of harms for fire and explosions in English dwellings

The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) allows English housing inspectors to evaluate the risk posed by 29 different hazards affecting the health and safety of occupiers in a given dwelling. HHSRS assessors use national average likelihood and spread of harm outcomes scores alongside hazard specific guidance to produce an overall dwelling hazard score, the magnitude of which indicates the risk to health and safety posed to the dwelling occupiers. This article describes how the average scores for likelihood and the spread of harm outcomes for the hazard of fire and explosions were updated as part of a wider review of the HHSRS. National data from ACORN, the English Housing Survey and Fire and Rescue Services were used to provide trend data and new annual figures for use in housing assessments. Results showed a steady decline in the likelihood of harm from fire in English dwellings since 2010/11. Class III harms were found to be lower than in the original HHSRS guidance while the percentage of class IV harms was greater. The overall reduction in risk from fire and explosions indicates that persistent regulatory attention and societal reductions in behaviours contributing to the risk of fire are having a positive impact on public health. The new averages will be used in an update of the HHSRS and subsequent regulatory work by local authorities across England, Wales and potentially the USA (who also use the HHSRS). Our methods may be adapted for use elsewhere