Combustible Dust Testing

Laboratory testing to quantify dust explosion and reactivity hazards

Safety Data Sheets

Develop critical safety data for inclusion in SDS documents

Gas and Vapor

Laboratory testing to quantify explosion hazards for vapor and gas mixtures

UN-DOT
Classification of hazardous materials subject to shipping and storage regulations
Hydrogen
Testing and consulting on the explosion risks associated with devices and processes which use or produce hydrogen
Safety Data Sheets

Develop critical safety data for inclusion in SDS documents

Thermal Stability

Safe storage or processing requires an understanding of the possible hazards associated with sensitivity to variations in temperature

Adiabatic Calorimetry
Data demonstrate the consequences of process upsets, such as failed equipment or improper procedures, and guide mitigation strategies including Emergency Relief System (ERS) design
Reaction Calorimetry
Data yield heat and gas removal requirements to control the desired process chemistry
Battery Safety

Testing to support safe design of batteries and electrical power backup facilities particularly to satisfy UL9540a ed.4

Safety Data Sheets

Develop critical safety data for inclusion in SDS documents

Cable Testing
Evaluate electrical cables to demonstrate reliability and identify defects or degradation
Equipment Qualification (EQ)
Testing and analysis to ensure that critical equipment will operate under adverse environmental conditions
Water Hammer
Analysis and testing to identify and prevent unwanted hydraulic pressure transients in process piping
Acoustic Vibration
Identify and eliminate potential sources of unwanted vibration in piping and structural systems
Gas & Air Intrusion
Analysis and testing to identify and prevent intrusion of gas or air in piping systems
ISO/IEC 17025:2017

Fauske & Associates fulfills the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2017 in the field of Testing

ISO 9001:2015
Fauske & Associates fulfills the requirements of ISO 9001:2015
Dust Hazards Analysis
Evaluate your process to identify combustible dust hazards and perform dust explosion testing
On-Site Risk Management
On-site safety studies can help identify explosibility and chemical reaction hazards so that appropriate testing, simulations, or calculations are identified to support safe scale up
DIERS Methodology
Design emergency pressure relief systems to mitigate the consequences of unwanted chemical reactivity and account for two-phase flow using the right tools and methods
Deflagrations (Dust/Vapor/Gas)

Properly size pressure relief vents to protect your processes from dust, vapor, and gas explosions

Effluent Handling

Pressure relief sizing is just the first step and it is critical to safely handle the effluent discharge from an overpressure event

FATE™ & Facility Modeling

FATE (Facility Flow, Aerosol, Thermal, and Explosion) is a flexible, fast-running code developed and maintained by Fauske and Associates under an ASME NQA-1 compliant QA program.

Mechanical, Piping, and Electrical
Engineering and testing to support safe plant operations and develop solutions to problems in heat transfer, fluid, flow, and electric power systems
Hydrogen Safety
Testing and consulting on the explosion risks associated with devices and processes which use or produce hydrogen
Thermal Hydraulics
Testing and analysis to ensure that critical equipment will operate under adverse environmental conditions
Nuclear Safety
Our Nuclear Services Group is recognized for comprehensive evaluations to help commercial nuclear power plants operate efficiently and stay compliant
Radioactive Waste
Safety analysis to underpin decomissioning process at facilities which have produced or used radioactive nuclear materials
Adiabatic Safety Calorimeters (ARSST and VSP2)

Low thermal inertial adiabatic calorimeters specially designed to provide directly scalable data that are critical to safe process design

Other Lab Equipment and Parts for the DSC/ARC/ARSST/VSP2 Calorimeters

Products and equipment for the process safety or process development laboratory

FERST

Software for emergency relief system design to ensure safe processing of reactive chemicals, including consideration of two-phase flow and runaway chemical reactions

FATE

Facility modeling software mechanistically tracks transport of heat, gasses, vapors, and aerosols for safety analysis of multi-room facilities

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Recent Posts

Flammability Hazard Assessments

Posted by Fauske & Associates on 05.09.18

By Rick Kwasny, Ph.D., Senior Consulting Engineer, Fauske & Associates, LLC

One of the major hazards in chemical industries is a fire. Fire in the process industries is the most reported hazard and causes a significant amount of deaths, injuries, and damage.

Flame in flammability hazardFires could also lead into or be a result of other major hazards (e.g. explosions or toxic release). Therefore, it is important we understand the flammability characteristics of flammable materials to avoid unwanted fires and explosions. One strategy that can be employed to analyze the hazards is a flammability hazard assessment.

A flammability hazard assessment can involve the following scenarios but is not limited to:

  1. In part, due to an OSHA PSM audit
  2. Management of change involving flammable materials
  3. Review previous incident(s) involving fire or explosion to ensure causative and preventative actions are identified and implemented
  4. Review of preliminary or detailed engineering design
  5. When considering the use of an oxidizer, e.g., oxygen, in a batch reaction involving a flammable liquid, safeguards must be developed to allow working safely with an oxygen-enriched headspace
  6. Objectively assess the flammability safety status of a legacy facility
  7. To better understand issues related to an OSHA citation

Depending upon the scope and complexity of the issues, the following methodologies can be used:

  1. On-site hazard assessment: A comprehensive review to identify potential hazards and recommend practical safeguards
  2. On-site walkthrough: A focused review to provide an overview of current safeguards used in flammable service
  3. Desktop review: There is no on-site component. The engineer would review process information drawings, operating procedures, and other documentation to assess the adequacy of the current facility operations with respect to the safe processing of flammables
  4. Flammability testing: There are many test results available in the open literature. However, if the temperature, pressure, or impurity profile falls outside the usual range, it can be necessary to recommend testing of specific plant samples at specified conditions.

It is best to work with one of our consulting engineers to determine the type of assessment to be used and the advantages of each.

In order to allow the client and our engineer to be on the same page the following information needs to be reviewed prior to the assessment:

  1. Determine if a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) will be needed to allow for the free exchange of the issues involved
  2. A document summarizing the unit operations involved in the process(s)
  3. A basic Process Flow Diagram to illustrate the process flow logic of the unit operations from the beginning to the final product including all waste streams
  4. The names and quantities of the materials of the process including their flammability hazards
  5. State the expectations or outcomes anticipated at the end of the project
  6. Identify any future plans that could impact on this project

The engineer will develop an agenda based on discussions with the client to ensure that all facilities, processes, equipment, and waste handling streams will be assessed.

Other items that need to be reviewed are:

  1. Bonding and grounding to safely dissipate static charges and avoid unwanted static accumulation, which can be an ignition source
  2. Control of ignition sources
  3. Inerting procedures and verification of adequacy
  4. Equipment inspection and preventative maintenance to proactively avoid unwanted breakdowns
  5. The order of protective systems should be engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment. Flammability and oxygen sensors with alarms and equipment interlocks should be used first, followed by manual controls to adjust the process, and adequate PPE to protect affected personnel
  6. Firefighting measures, such as sprinklers, fire extinguishers, chemical foam systems, etc. Firefighting response (in-house brigade and mutual aid), which should be part of the Emergency Response Plan
  7. Hot Work Permit systems to ensure potential ignition points are controlled during maintenance procedures
  8. LockOut/TagOut program to ensure deenergization of affected equipment during Hot Work or maintenance operations
  9. Flammability training packages for affected employees. This is an important issue since Operators are often involved in making decisions on how to respond to a flammability issue, and the first efforts can often result in significant situations.

Safety Reviews:

There are a number of in-house reviews that can be conducted involving flammable materials:

  1. Preliminary engineering design
  2. Detailed engineering design
  3. Pre-startup safety review
  4. Process Hazard Analysis

If management has determined, there is a need for a flammability subject matter expert, Fauske & Associates, LLC has often been involved with the client’s team.

Next Steps:

If you have or believe you have a flammability issue, do not hesitate to contact us regarding your concerns at oss@fauske.com. We will then work with you to develop an appropriate response based on your needs.

References

  1. NFPA 30, “Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code,”
  2. NFPA 33 Codes 7.11, “Paint Booth Technologies,”
  3. NFPA 68, “ Standard on Explosion Protection by Deflagration Venting,”
  4. NFPA 69, “Standard on Explosion Prevention Systems,”
  5. NFPA 70, “National Electric Code”,
  6. NFPA 72, “National Alarm and Signaling Code,”
  7. NFPA 77, “Recommended Practice on Static Electricity,”
  8. NFPA 497, “Recomm ended Practice for the Classification of Flammable Liquids, Gases, or Vapor and of Hazardous (Classified) Locations for Electrical Installations in Chemical Process Areas,”
  9. Britton G., Laurence, “Avoiding Static Ignition Hazards in Chemical Operations,” American Institute of Chemical Engineers, CCPS Concept Book, 1999,
  10. Brodurtha, F. T., “Industrial Explosion Prevention and Protection,”
  11. 1OS HA 29 CFR 1910.120 “Hazard Communication Standard ,”
  12. OS HA 29 CFR 1910.106; Flammable and Combustible Liquids,
  13. Lees, P. F., “Loss Prevention in the Process Industries,” Volume 1

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