Well, since I am writing about it, you have probably already know the correct answer. But where does this requirement originate? OSHA Standard(s), OSHA’s General Duty Clause, EPA standards, or… Yep, you guessed it – the International Fire Code (IFC). Granted, the IFC is not heavily enforced BEFORE accidents, but most states have adopted the […]
If you work in a state/county/town/township that has a “fire code” inspector, how would your facility measure up to these Top Citations for Group H Occupancies? By the way, here is an excellent summary of the five sub-groups in Group H: High-hazard Group H-1 buildings and structures which contain materials that pose a detonation (explosion)
On 3/28/2016, for reasons unknown, the EPA withdrew its notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) at the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) regarding possible modifications to reportable quantities. The NPRM was submitted on 3/6/2018.
In my line of work, I come across a lot of areas that have a “ventilation system” that intends to reduce exposure and control flammable gases/vapors. The vast majority of these systems are “sized” properly, meaning they move enough air to meet the code/standard they were built to; however, one aspect of the system we
To quote the IFC committee, “the purpose of performance-based design criteria is to promote innovative, flexible and responsive solutions that optimize the expenditure and consumption of resources while preserving social and economic value.” Section 5001.3 Performance-based design alternative is intended to be compatible with EPA’s RMP and OSHA’s PSM requirements, so it would reduce the burden
We visit this topic again and again, the short answer is NO! According to ASME Section VIII, Division 1 (UG-135) and API RP 520, Pressure Safety Valves (PSVs) must be installed in a vertical position with the spindle (stem) oriented upright. Installing a valve horizontally is considered a significant deviation from engineering standards and can
This recent event is an excellent example of why vessels have Minimum Design Metal Temperatures (MDMT) and what can happen when they are exceeded. It also is a nice example of how API RP 579-1 / ASME FFS-1, Fitness-For-Service standard can be used to ensure a vessel is fit for continued service. On January 22, 2018,
The French National Institute for Industrial Environment and Risks (INERIS) conducted a study to examine how anhydrous ammonia would behave under a number of different release sceanrios. The main aims of this study were: to analyse the risks represented by facilities using quantities of ammonia of up to a few dozen tonnes to complete knowledge on the
I am not quite sure why they did this, but the ICC decided that the requirements for “leak detection” and “emergency shutoff” for high hazard gases and liquids ONLY apply when the “maximum allowable quantity per control” area is exceeded. This was done by moving these requirements from Section 5003 where they applied to any quantity
Due to the potential environmental impact, there has been a shift to consider use of natural refrigerants, which have a lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) than traditional fluorocarbon based refrigerants. One type of natural refrigerant are hydrocarbons (e.g. propane), which are classified as Class A3 refrigerants per ASHRAE Standard 34. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a charge limit
This week the CSB issued their report and video on the Kansas WRONG CHEMICAL – WRONG TANK incident. The CSB found that over the years a number of injuries have occurred as a result of similar incidents involving inadvertent mixing during unloading. PHMSA reviewed serious incident data involving bulk loading and unloading of hazardous materials transported via highway
This week the state of Oregon removed the prohibition of citizens fueling their own vehicles at gas pumps; leaving the state of New Jersey as the sole state that prohibits their citizens from pumping their own gas. Here is an excellent article explaining how these prohibitions began in New Jersey. But the reaction of the
