When flammable liquid tanks are equalized — meaning they are interconnected by piping that allows fluid levels to equalize between them — we MUST account for this in our secondary containment design. From a regulatory and engineering standpoint, the governing principle is to protect against the worst-case single-event release. If tanks are interconnected, a failure…...
Now that we have laid out the code requirements for conducting the visual inspection of pipe welds, let’s discuss how this must be documented…. Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
ASME Section V, Article 9 places the responsibility for the designation and qualification of these individuals on the organization (the employer or manufacturer). The organization is responsible for assigning “qualified personnel” to perform visual examinations. ASME Section V requires that personnel be qualified and certified in accordance with a program established by their employer. The…...
The next layer of the onion to unpack is the specific requirements for performing “Visual Examinations”. This is all part of the installer’s Quality Assurance program. We are getting deep into the weeds as we “peel this onion”, but these are CRITICAL needs to ensure our pipe is erected properly per the ASME B31 code(s)…....
Unfortunately, the code is not as clear as I would like, and I do get a lot of pushback when I encounter high-expansion fluids in hazardous-materials piping. I deal with a lot of liquids that are Highly Toxic, Flammable, and some that are both, which also have a high coefficient of expansion. So, in this…...
A chemical gas leak at a Water Plant resulted in three people being transported to the hospital. The leak was a result of a chemical reaction of the chemical “alum” being mistakenly added to two tanks of bleach, creating chlorine gas. At around 2 p.m., the Portage County Hazardous Materials Team responded to an incident…...
Under certain conditions, the IFC allows “Fail-Safe Engineered Systems” in lieu of “emergency backup power” for safety-critical systems such as ventilation, treatment, or temperature control systems. The code states: 5004.7.2 Fail-safe engineered systems. Standby power for mechanical ventilation, treatment systems and temperature control systems shall not be required where an approved fail-safe engineered system is…...
Seven (7) of the Top 10 OSHA citations were in General Industry; Three (3) were in construction. Of the Top 10 citations, ALL were issued in 2010 or earlier, dating back to 1989. Process Safety, Flammable Liquids, and Combustible Dusts drive the top four (4) citations ($114,251,500) The three (3) construction cases totaled $23,230,000… Membership...
We see this all the time, although many folks think it is rare – why I am not sure, as this scenario is 100% why OSHA promulgated the Energy Control Standard in 1989, to PREVENT someone from energizing a machine/equipment while someone is performing servicing/mainteance on it. On Jan. 29, 2026, a worker was tasked…...
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National Security Agency (NSA), the Department of Energy (DOE), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Department of Transportation (DOT), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)—hereafter referred to as “the authoring organizations”—are aware of malicious cyber…...
I have discussed the phrase “at least” in 39 articles I have posted over the 30 years of SAFTENG’s existence. Most of my references are to process safety matters, but it is also widely used in OSH standards and codes. And still today, it is as big a “trap” as it was when I started…...
Yes, having threaded rods of inconsistent lengths on a single flange is a mechanical integrity concern. While it may seem like a minor aesthetic issue, it directly impacts the ability to achieve a secure, uniform pressure boundary. Why Inconsistent THREADED Rod/Bolt Lengths are a Problem… Membership Required You must be a member to access this...
