In 2017, the NBIC was restructured into four (4) parts, adding a new Part 4, Pressure Relief Devices. This purpose of this restructuring was to provide one distinct integrated part for pressure relief devices compiled from all PRD information referenced in Part 1, Installation; Part 2, Inspection; and Part 3, Repairs and Alterations. And in […]
An “Emergency Pressure Control System” has been a requirement in the IFC and IMC for several iterations of these codes, and yet it can be a very confusing requirement as they are not found in the vast majority of mechanical refrigeration systems using Anhydrous Ammonia as the refrigerant. Part of the problem may lie in
Ammonia refrigeration “diffuser tanks” have been around since the early 1990’s when the Uniform Fire Code (UFC) began requiring them. That means some of these tanks will be due for their Mechanical Integrity Inspection and this is when most facilities will realize that the process design does not lend itself for a safe means to
4/20/2018 UPDATE: To further this discussion… consider a diffuser tank is 95% effective (Source: IIAR Technical Paper), meaning that 5% of NH3 would theoretically make it to the atm. WHEN that 5% is greater than 100 pounds, you have a REPORTABLE RELEASE. Using an actual “oil separator” at a client, the RV has a 0.75″
The Association for Rubber Products Manufacturers (ARPM) is an organization that was started in 2010 after elastomer products company executives belonging to the RMA mutually agreed that a stand-alone association was needed for codes/standards. Those of us in the process safety field are all too familiar with the RMA and ARPM, as these organizations write
Almost every manufacturing facility that handles a hazardous material will utilize hoses in their handling of the material. And one of the biggest risk any facility will manage is the BULK UNLOADING/LOADING of their HAZARDOUS MATERIALS. Whether the hazardous material is a PSM/RMP covered chemical or just a good ole fashion HAZMAT, the integrity of
Last month, March 2018, WorkSafe BC revised their “Ammonia in Refrigeration Systems” manual. This manual describes the hazards of ammonia and how to prevent and control exposure. It lets you know your responsibilities as an employer and shows you how to prepare for emergencies and investigate ammonia releases to help prevent future accidents.
Current Statistics To date, DHS has received more than 88,258 Top-Screen submissions from more than 40,000 unique facilities. Of these, the CFATS program currently covers 3,441 facilities. These high-risk facilities are divided into four tiers, with Tier 1 facilities posing the highest security risk. CFATS Activities It is important to note that this regulatory program
Is your fire water is a “protection/mitigation” safeguard in your Process Safety program? Most covered processes, whether toxic or flammable, will utilize firewater as a “critical utility” to help protect/mitigate a release and/or fire from the process. When this is the case, our fire water system (reservoir(s), pump(s), fire water piping, hydrants, monitor nozzles, etc.)
Recently we were performing an audit at a clients facility in which we had done the previous 3-year PSM/RMP audit. And during that prior audit, we observed a damaged hydrant that had been out of service for several months, and we came across another instance where the facility identified another hydrant that was damaged; both
This topic is a bit off, but for some reason, this issue is trending in our RMP/PSM audit findings. We have been finding this since we began performing RMP audits in the 2002-2003 time frame, but the numbers are trending up. Now, this is NOT about a “hazardous condition,” but in almost all our cases,
Recently I posted an article about the IIAR’s new Maintenance Standard that was going to allow bench testing of a “sampling” of our Relief Valves (RVs) as an alternative to the 5-year cycle. I have written numerous times about this practice, but I could never compete with the National Board’s article(s) on the topic. Their
