THE FOCUS OF THE OXYGEN COMPATIBILITY assessment process is fire hazards, and there is great emphasis placed on evaluating ignition mechanisms (presented in Chapter 2) and applying materials test data (presented in Chapter 3). This process is a systematic approach that can be used as both a design guide and an approval process for materials, components, and systems. The necessity for conducting an oxygen compatibility assessment is directly tied to minimizing the risk of fire and the potential effects of fire on personnel safety and the system. This chapter begins with a brief description of the risk management approach that is recommended for handling the fire hazards associated with oxygen systems, followed by a description of the oxygen compatibility assessment process. This chapter concludes with a description of how the oxygen compatibility assessment process can be usedv to select materials for oxygen service.