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

Blog

Our highly experienced team keeps you up-to-date on the latest process safety developments.

Process Safety Newsletter

Stay informed with our quarterly Process Safety Newsletters sharing topical articles and practical advice.

Resources

With over 40 years of industry expertise, we have a wealth of process safety knowledge to share.

Recent Posts

Transporting Hazardous Materials | Fauske

Posted by Fauske & Associates on 08.30.16

With sadness, we read of the fatality in the nitrous oxide related "Airgas explosion likely loading dock accident" article by the Pensacola News Journal. The accident took place at the Airgas facility's Ascend Performance Materials' chemical plant where two semis were delivering the substance.  Details are still forthcoming though no intentional act appears to be at play. Hazardous Materials Test

We often explain to customers (so often, its on our website) that when goods are to be transported, there are many regulations that need to be followed in order to assess and classify the hazards associated with the specific material. This can be an important factor in the design and commercialization of a specific good. Slight changes in the composition of the material may not change the overall end use of the product but could possibly result in a change in its hazard classification. 

UN/DOT transportation testing of potentially dangerous goods requires vigilance.  “Dangerous goods” may be pure chemical substances, mixtures, or manufactured articles. An engineering lab with extensive experience in characterizing the explosive or flammable nature of solids, liquids, vapors and gases is ideal for consideration of all possible accident scenarios. Depending on the classification, some substances may be certified once a year, recertified fairly routinely or require more extensive certification with even subtle changes.   

The following testing services help determine the proper shipping classification for the following types of hazards:

 

Class 3: Flammable Liquids

The flammable liquids classification is determined by evaluating the flash point of the liquid.  The packing group is then assigned based on the range at which the flash point of the liquid falls within.

Class 4: Flammable Solids, Division 4.1: Flammable Solids, Self-Reactive Substances and Solid Desensitized Explosives

The Burning Rate test is used to classify materials as “flammable solids”. The test involves exposing a powder train (250 mm x 20 mm x 10 mm) to a flame or hot wire with a temperature of 1000°C.  Classification is then based on the materials burning rate.

Class 4: Flammable Solids, Division 4.2: Substances Liable to Spontaneous Combustion

The Self-Heating Substances test is used to determine if substances are “spontaneously combustible”.  The test involves exposing various quantities of sample to temperatures of 100°C, 120°C and 140°C for a period of 24 hours.  During the exposure time, the temperature of the sample is monitored for exothermic activity.  Classification is then based on the occurrence of exothermic activity and the size and temperature at which it occurred.

Class 4: Flammable Solids, Division 4.3: Substances, Which in Contact With Water, Emit Flammable Gases

The Dangerous When Wet test is used to determine if the material is capable of generating flammable gases when it comes into contact with water.  This is a multistep test that involves exposing the material to small quantities of water and evaluating if flammable gases are generated.  Classification is then based on the evidence of flammable gas evolution and the rate at which these gases evolve.

Class 5: Oxidizing Substance, Division 5.1: Oxidizing Solids

The Solid Oxidizing Substance test is used to identify if a material has hazardous oxidizing properties.  The test involves mixing the sample with various quantities of a known combustible material and comparing the burning characteristics to that of a known oxidizer/fuel mixture.  Classification is then based upon how intensely the sample burns. Please also see:Introducing UN Test O.2 Oxidizing Liquids (Combustible Hazard).

Results from these tests will identify if your material falls into one of these categories and, if so, the degree of danger these materials present. 

Thoughts? Burn Rate Testing may be the subject of another blog as questions on this seem to be cropping up among our customers and readers.  Our prayers and deepest condolences are with the family of the unfortunate Airgas employee. For more information on hazardous materials test or to discuss, please comment here or contact: Paul Osterberg, Director of Flammability Services, FAI Osterberg@fauske.com,  630-887-5248

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 #un dot test #un-dot testing #un transportation #hazardous testing #hazardous material #hazardous materials #flash point testing

 

Topics: Combustible Dust, Flammability, Testing, UN-DOT Testing

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