A lot of folks know that all it takes to break a window is around 0.5 psi, but what happens above that force?
|
Impact of VCEs on Facilities |
|
|
Peak psi |
Typical Damage |
| 0.5 – 1 | glass windows break |
| 1 – 2 |
Common siding types fail: – corrugated asbestos shatters – corrugated steel panel joints fail – wood siding blows in |
| 2 – 3 |
Unreinforced concrete, cinder block walls fail |
| 3 – 4 |
Self-framed steel panel buildings collapse Oil storage tanks rupture |
| 5 |
Utility poles snap |
| 7 |
Loaded rail cars overturn |
| 7 – 8 |
Unreinforced brick walls fail |
|
Impact of VCEs on Personnel |
||
|
Peak (psi) |
Equivalent (mph) |
Effects |
| 1 – 2 | 70 | knocks personnel down |
| 5 – 10 | 160 – 290 | ruptures eardrums |
| 15 – 20 | 470 | damages lungs |
| 30 – 35 | 670 | threshold for fatalities |
| 50 | 940 | 50% fatalities |
| 65 | 99% fatalities | |
Source: Harry J. Toups LSU Department of Chemical Engineering with significant material from SACHE 2003 Workshop presentation by Ray French (ExxonMobil)
UPDATE on 9/2016 with ALOHA Data.
| Overpressure* (psig) |
Expected Damage | |
|---|---|---|
| 0.04 | Loud noise (143 db); sonic boom glass failure. | |
| 0.15 | Typical pressure for glass failure. | |
| 0.40 | Limited minor structural damage. | |
| 0.50-1.0 | Windows usually shattered; some window frame damage. | |
| 0.70 | Minor damage to house structures. | |
| 1.0 | Partial demolition of houses; made uninhabitable. | |
| 1.0-2.0 | Corrugated metal panels fail and buckle. Housing wood panels blown in. | |
| 1.0-8.0 | Range for slight to serious laceration injuries from flying glass and other missiles. | |
| 2.0 | Partial collapse of walls and roofs of houses. | |
| 2.0-3.0 | Non-reinforced concrete or cinder block walls shattered. | |
| 2.4-12.2 | Range for 1-90% eardrum rupture among exposed populations. | |
| 2.5 | 50% destruction of home brickwork. | |
| 3.0 | Steel frame buildings distorted and pulled away from foundation. | |
| 5.0 | Wooden utility poles snapped. | |
| 5.0-7.0 | Nearly complete destruction of houses. | |
| 7.0 | Loaded train cars overturned. | |
| 9.0 | Loaded train box cars demolished. | |
| 10.0 | Probable total building destruction. | |
| 14.5-29.0 | Range for 1-99% fatalities among exposed populations due to direct blast effects. | |
| * These are peak pressures formed in excess of normal atmospheric pressure by blast and shock waves. | ||
| Lees, Frank P. 1980. Loss Prevention in the Process Industries, Vol. 1. London and Boston: Butterworths. | ||