Anhydrous ammonia bulk storage plants shall not be installed within the limits of any municipality unless such anhydrous ammonia bulk storage plant is located within an industrial park or an industrial area serviced by a municipal fire department. The installation of any such bulk storage plant within the limits of a municipality, the construction of […]
The following policy applies to anhydrous ammonia storage tanks (tanks) in Kansas.
In 2019, the state of IL passed some revisions to its NH3 Fertilizer codes. On 12/31/2025, ALL NH3 storage tanks that are old Railcars converted to a storage MUST be removed from service.
In all my Process Safety courses, we discuss the key RAGAGEPs for Primary Containment (ASME B31.3, ASME Section VIII, etc.). I am always taken aback by how many safety professionals tasked with managing PSM/RMP-covered processes know so little about these critical standards. I am not teaching them to be piping or pressure vessel SME’s; but
ASTM F2786 is an excellent source for reliable information on how to “Leak Test” Polyethylene (PE) piping systems. The practice provides information on apparatus, safety, pre-test preparation, and procedures for conducting field tests of polyethylene pressure piping systems after installation using gaseous testing media such as unodorized inert non-toxic gas or air, and applying pressure
A question I get not nearly enough, and when I do, the party that asked it is usually not happy with my answer. But when we pressure test our piping pneumatically, we MUST establish a “safe distance”. And simply stated, the distances START @
A term not even mentioned in OSHA’s 1910.119 or EPA’s Part 68, but a term that has huge impacts on process safety. So what is a “Battery Limit” in the context of Process Safety? I use the definition provided by AICHE… The perimeter of a specific manufacturing process area. It is often defined by the
Here is a nice flowchart to help establish the “Pipe Category” per ASME B31.
The old argument that we cannot do Hydrostatic Testing on our piping and must do Pneumatic Testing is as old as I have been dealing with process piping (32 years and counting). I was raised in the process and semiconductor industries, where we ALWAYS did hydrostatic testing, and pneumatic testing was our last resort. But
Using the piping inspection RAGAGEP API 570, one of the first steps in our piping inspections/testing is to establish the “Class” our piping fits into. In most cases, I advise my clients to classify their PSM/RMP-covered piping as Class 1. However, there is a possibility that some flammable liquid piping could be classified in a
Those who know me or have been following my rants for years know my love of Bollards and Jersey Barriers. These simple devices (e.g., PASSIVE engineering controls) can prevent a lot of contact between mobile equipment and process/equipment. But as shown in the image below, Aerial Devices such as JLGs can reach OVER safety barriers,
Take notice… single hose. Means liquid gasoline is going in the tank, but where are the vapors going if there is not a vapor return hose back to the truck? ALSO, the tank has an atmospheric vent pipe somewhere so as to vent vapor pressure should the tank get warmer and the gasoline Vp increases.
