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.

Flammability Testing

Explanation of Flammability Tests

One of the largest causes for loss in process industries for both equipment and life is fire. The enormous volume and frequency of use of flammable and combustible liquids and gases handled worldwide implies that the risk of industrial accidents is great.

At Fauske & Associates (FAI) we can help you assess your risk exposure by characterizing the flammability potential of your combustible vapors or gases. The following is a list of the most common tests that are performed for flammability hazard characterization and the standards by which FAI can perform these tests; please note that specialized testing can be performed to more closely match your process conditions and thereby better gauge your risk.
 
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Testing Services


  • Flash Point (Closed and Open Cup)
      • ASTM D56 - “Standard Test Method for Flash Point by Tag Closed Cup Tester”
      • ASTM D92 - “Standard Test Method for Flash and Fire Points by Cleveland Open Cup Tester”
      • ASTM D93 - “Standard Test Methods for Flash Point by Pensky-Martens Closed Cup Tester”
      • ASTM D3278 - “Standard Test Methods for Flash Point of Liquids by Small Scale Closed-Cup Apparatus”
      • ASTM D3828 - “Standard Test Methods for Flash Point by Small Scale Closed Cup Tester”
      • EC 440 Test A.9 - "Flash Point"
  • Sustained Burning/Combustibility (Fire Point)
      • 49 CFR Appendix H to Part 173 - "Method of Testing for Sustained Combustibility"
      • ASTM D92 - "Standard Test Method for Flash and Fire Points by Cleveland Open Cup Tester"
      • ASTM D4206 - "Standard Test Method for Sustained Burning of Liquid Mixtures Using the Small Scale Open-Cup Apparatus"
      • UN/DOT Test L.2 “Sustained Combustibility Test”
  • Autoignition Temperature (AIT)
      • ASTM E659 - "Standard Test Method for Autoignition Temperature of Chemicals"
      • EC 440 Test A.15 - "Autoignition Temperature (Liquids and Gases)"
  • Flash And Spontaneous Ignition Temperature of Plastics (FIT, SIT)
      • ASTM D1929 - "Standard Test Method for Determining Ignition Temperature of Plastics"
      • ISO 871 - "Plastics - Determination of Ignition Temperature using a Hot-Air Furnace"
  • Flammability Limits (LFL/LEL, UFL/UEL)
      • ASTM E681 - "Standard Test Method for Concentration Limits of Flammability of Chemicals (Vapors and Gases)"
      • ASTM E918 - "Standard Practice for Determining Limits of Flammability of Chemicals at Elevated Temperature and Pressure"
      • EN 1839 - "Determination of Explosion Limits of Gases and Vapors"
  • Lower Temperature Limit of Flammability (LTL) Testing
      • ASTM E1232 - “Standard Test Method for Temperature Limit of Flammability of Chemicals”
  • Limiting Oxygen Concentration (LOC)
      • ASTM E2079 - "Standard Test Methods for Limiting Oxygen (Oxidant) Concentration in Gases and Vapors"
      • EN 14756 - "Determination of the Limiting Oxygen Concentration (LOC) for Flammable Gases and Vapors"
  • Minimum Ignition Energy (MIE)
      • ASTM E582 - "Standard Test Method for Minimum Ignition Energy and Quenching Distance in Gaseous Mixtures"
  • Explosion Severity (PMAX, KG) Testing
      • EN 15967 - “Determination of Maximum Explosion Pressure and Maximum Rate of Pressure Rise of Gases and Vapors”
  • Heat of Combustion (HOC)
      • ASTM D240 - "Standard Test Method for Heat of Combustion of Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuels by Bomb Calorimeter”
  • Maximum Experimental Safe Gap (MESG)
      • IEC 80079-20-1 - “Explosive Atmospheres - Part 20-1: Material Characteristics for Gas and Vapour Classification”
  • Custom Testing
      • Some of the conditions we provide include:
          • Elevated temperature
          • Elevated pressure
          • Various oxidizers and inerts
          • Various volumes for test variations (1L, 5L, 20L, etc.)

 

Related Services

Evaluate the flammability hazards of liquid vapors to reduce your risk

Understanding Flammability - Resources

Estimation of Peak Pressure for Sonic-Vented Hydrocarbon Explosions in Spherical Vessels
Flammability and Combustion of H2, Air or O2, and Ar Gas Mixtures
Gas Behavior in Large Diameter Containers During and Following Loading With 105K East Sludge
Hydrogen Generation for Select FTS Scenarios
Potential for Flammable Atmosphere Above the K-Basin Pool During Grouting