This is an excellent photo that shows what happens when a FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS ATMOPSHERIC STORAGE tank does not have proper or adequate emergency venting. As we can see in this photo (Source: AP) the tank is still in tank, but with a large hole (e.g. new vent!). This tank was estimated to have reached the […]
OSHA, as well as NFPA and IFC, permit a “weak roof-to-shell seam” as the means for emergency venting on an OUTSIDE ABOVE GROUND ATMOSPHERIC storage tank for flammable liquids. This method was vey common in the early days, but has since been replaced with engineered fire vents. This video does an excellent job demonstrating how
Over the past year or so we have come across several situations where facilities have replaced their flammable liquid storage tanks, which some are used as a “waste tank”. These “waste tanks” fall under EPA’s RCRA rule and apparently these tanks have to be “fully inspected” on a set frequency and when tanks sit directly
In the world of process safety, we have Safe Upper and Lower limits on a lot of common process parameters, such as pressures, levels, temperatures, etc. Flows on the other hand are quite often overlooked as a critical process parameter and when your HHC/EHS is a non-conductive flammable liquid both FLOW and LEVEL must be
A crew was conducting well kill operations on a sweet oil well. A worker was monitoring the return flow to the service rig trough from on top of the rig tank. When the returns became gassier, the return flow was opened to the degasser section of the rig tank and the trough flow was pinched
Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders are being filled by decanting equipment. These cylinders can be for commercial use (e.g. forklift trucks) or for domestic use (e.g. cook tops, barbecues, and camping). It is critical that all decanting operations are carried out in a suitable and safe manner. What happened? A fire broke out at a
Have you ever seen several full tanker trailers parked without their mode of transport under them or a railcar with the Class 3 Flammable placard hooked up to the process and being used as a storage tank? Although OSHA’s 1910.106 makes no specific prohibition against this practice, I would like to point out that the
Description of Incident: An operator was checking the level in a 500 gallon methanol storage tank: Tank was polyethylene plastic, double wall A worker climbed on top of the tank. Flammable vapour was ignited, when the worker touched the cap on the inner tank, resulting in an explosion and flash fire. The worker received first aid
Sizing emergency venting for atmospheric flammable liquid storage tanks is a safety-critical requirement, yet we often find it undersized. The core objective is to provide sufficient relief capacity so that, in the event of an external “exposure fire,” the tank does not rupture due to rapid internal pressure buildup from vaporizing liquid. Unlike normal venting
A little background on what this table is telling us: NFPA 77 classifies flammable liquids as Conductive, Semi-Conductive, and Non-Conductive: Conductive Liquids = >10,000 pS/m Semi-Conductive Liquids = >100<10,000 pS/m Non-Conductive Liquids = <100 pS/m In the tables below, 1 conductivity unit (C.U.) = 1 picosiemen per meter (pS/m)
