Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A computer implemented method of determining whether to approve a work permit in a nuclear power plant, comprising:receiving an electronic permit request for a permit to perform work in an area of the plant;determining a quantitative fire risk value associated with the work identified in the permit request;comparing the determined fire risk value to a predetermined quantitative threshold fire risk value associated with the area in which the work will be performed; andgenerating automatic electronic authorization for the permit if the determined fire risk value does not exceed the threshold fire risk value. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, with one or more processors, at least one compensatory measure to provide protection against a fire risk posed by the work identified in the permit request. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of electronically determining at least one compensatory measure comprises electronically checking the status of fire suppression equipment in and adjacent to the area of the plant in which the work listed in the permit request will occur. 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of electronically determining at least one compensatory measure comprises electronically checking the status of combustible transit permits that have been issued for plant areas adjacent to the area of the plant in which the work listed in the permit request will occur. 5. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of electronically determining at least one compensatory measure comprises electronically checking the status of hot work permits that have been issued for plant areas adjacent to the area of the plant in which the work listed in the permit request will occur. 6. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of electronically determining at least one compensatory measure comprises electronically checking the status of barriers in areas of the plant in and adjacent to the area of the plant in which the work listed in the permit request will occur. 7. The method of claim 2, further comprising generating and maintaining a database that lists the physical relationships between barriers, fire detection equipment and fire suppression equipment for different areas of the plant, and wherein the step of electronically determining at least one compensatory measure comprises electronically checking the locations of barriers, fire detection equipment and fire suppression equipment in areas of the plant that are in and adjacent to the area in which the work listed in the permit request will occur. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of generating and maintaining the database also comprises storing the current status of the barriers, fire detection equipment and fire suppression equipment, and wherein the step of electronically determining at least one compensatory measure comprises electronically checking the current status of barriers, fire detection equipment and fire suppression equipment located in areas of the plant that are in and adjacent to the area in which the work listed in the permit request will occur. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of electronically determining at least one compensatory measure further comprises electronically checking the current status of combustible transit permits and hot work permits that have been issued for areas of the plant that are in and adjacent to the area in which the work listed in the permit request will occur. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the quantitative fire risk value associated with the work identified in the work permit comprises:determining a work risk value associated with the work identified in the permit request;determining if any compensatory measures will be taken to reduce the risk of fire posed by the work identified in the permit request;determining a compensatory value representing an amount by which the work risk will be reduced by any compensatory measures that will be taken; anddetermining the quantitative fire risk value associated with the work identified in the permit request based on the determined work risk value and the determined compensatory value. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the quantitative fire risk value associated with the work identified in the permit request comprises considering conditions in areas adjacent to the area in which the work identified in the permit request will be performed. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein considering conditions in the areas adjacent to the area in which the work will be performed comprises considering the condition of fire suppression equipment in areas adjacent to the area in which the work will be performed. 13. The method of claim 11, wherein considering conditions in the areas adjacent to the area in which the work will be performed comprises considering the condition of fire detection equipment in areas adjacent to the area in which the work will be performed. 14. The method of claim 11, wherein considering conditions in the areas adjacent to the area in which the work will be performed comprises considering the condition of fire barriers between the area in which the work will be performed and areas adjacent to the area in which the work will be performed. 15. The method of claim 11, wherein considering conditions in the areas adjacent to the area in which the work will be performed comprises considering any hot work that is scheduled to be performed in areas adjacent to the area in which the work will be performed. 16. The method of claim 11, wherein considering conditions in the areas adjacent to the area in which the work will be performed comprises considering whether any combustible materials are currently being stored in areas adjacent to the area in which the work will be performed. 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the quantitative fire risk value associated with the work identified in the permit request comprises determining a fire risk value based on a work risk value associated with the work identified in the permit request and an area risk value associated with the area in which the work will be performed. 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the quantitative fire risk value associated with the work identified in the work permit request comprises considering the risk of impairment of alarm panels located in the area where the work identified in the permit request will be performed. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of determining the quantitative fire risk value associated with the work identified in the work permit request further comprises considering the risk of impairment of alarm panels located in areas surrounding the area where the work identified in the permit request will be performed. 20. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the quantitative fire risk value associated with the work identified in the permit request comprises determining an overall fire risk value, and wherein determining the overall fire risk value comprises:determining a work area risk value representative of the fire risk in the area where the work will be performed;determining surrounding area risk values for areas adjacent to the area where the work will be performed, wherein each surrounding area risk value is representative of the fire risk in a surrounding area which is associated with performance of the work identified in the permit request; anddetermining the overall fire risk value based on the work area risk value and the surrounding area risk values. 21. A computer implemented method of determining whether to approve a work permit in a nuclear power plant, comprising:receiving an electronic permit request for a permit to perform work in an area of the plant;recommending that the permit request be approved if a quantitative fire risk value posed by the work identified in the permit request does not exceed a predetermined threshold fire risk value associated with the area in which the work will be performed; andrecommending that the permit request be disapproved if a quantitative fire risk value posed by the work identified in the permit request exceeds the predetermined threshold fire risk value associated with the area in which the work will be performed. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of recommending that the permit request be approved comprises:determining a quantitative fire risk value associated with the work identified in the permit request;comparing the determined fire risk value to the predetermined threshold fire risk value associated with the area in which the work will be performed; andrecommending that the permit request be approved if the determined fire risk value does not exceed the threshold fire risk value. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of determining the fire risk value associated with the work identified in the work permit comprises:determining a quantitative work risk value associated with the work identified in the permit request;determining whether any compensatory measures will be taken to reduce the risk posed by the work identified in the permit request;determining a compensatory value representing an amount by which the quantitative work risk will be reduced by any compensatory measures that will be taken; anddetermining the quantitative fire risk value associated with the work identified in the permit request based on the determined work risk value and the determined compensatory value. 24. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of determining the fire risk value associated with the work identified in the permit request comprises determining a fire risk value based on a work risk value associated with the work identified in the permit request and an area risk value associated with the area in which the work will be performed. 25. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of electronically determining at least one compensatory measure comprises electronically checking the status of fire detection equipment in and adjacent to the area of the plant which the work listed in the permit request will occur.