Study of Storage Tank Fires

This study dating from 2005 was published in the Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries.  It is worth noting that since this study the LASTFIRE Study data has been published and continues to be (annual database revisions) the most comprehensive study of this subject :

Abstract : This paper reviews 242 accidents of storage tanks that occurred in industrial facilities over last 40 years.  Fishbone Diagram is applied to analyse the causes that lead to accidents.  Corrective actions are also provided to help operating engineers handling similar situations in the future.  The results show that 74% of accidents occurred in petroleum refineries, oil terminals or storage ... click here to download (PDF in new window) - February 2010

The Specialist - "Low Pressure Storage Tank Vents" (ABB)

Another excellent edition of the 'The Specialist' providing valuable 'lessons learned' material for our process, engineering and emergency response personnel.

The main philosophy is to provide technical information and guidance that practising engineers and managers would find useful.  Ideally we would like to share learning and experiences, ours and yours, from around the world, in a way that will not draw attention to a specific company, so getting away from the various litigation issues and other sensitivities.  By acting through this independent channel we can all share our learning responsibly and anonymously!

Storage tanks have been in the news recently - failures have had significant consequences for safety, health and the environment and because of the size of their inventories, a loss of containment can represent a major business impact.  Storage tanks are primarily regarded as 'low pressure' and their pressure relief requirements tend to be given less attention than their primary containment features.  This month's Specialist focuses on the importance of ensuring that adequate in-breathing and out-breathing is provided and maintained ... click here to download this month's edition (PDF in new window) - January 2010

CCPS Process Safety Beacon Corrosion and Erosion

Mechanical integrity is one of the biggest challenges for an effective process safety management programme.  Think about it... in your plant, there may be hundreds of vessels, thousands of feet of pipe, and hundreds of pumps, compressors, instruments, and other equipment.  All of it must be kept in good operating condition to ensure safe, reliable, and profitable operation.  Management of corrosion and erosion of process piping and equipment must be a major component of any effective mechanical integrity programme ... click here to open the bulletin - January 2010

The Specialist - "Sharing through Experience" (ABB)

These Safety Information Sharing Features are by engineering company ABB.  The following are the 2009 editions of short educational snippets, that may be beneficial to Engineers and Process Safety Professionals ... - December 2009

Edition 1 : The Specialist - Managing Non-Metallics (PDF in new window)

Edition 2 : The Specialist - Ageing Plant (PDF in new window)

Edition 3 : The Specialist - Package Equipment Design (PDF in new window)

Edition 4 : The Specialist - Pipe Support Corrosion (PDF in new window)

Edition 5 : The Specialist - Repairs and Coatings (PDF in new window)

Marsh - Loss Control Newsletters for 2009

The Loss Control Newsletters (LCN) for 2009 are a selection of technical articles, incident investigation findings and losses that occurred in the early part of 2009. We hope you find this edition useful and would welcome any comments on the content or what you might like to see in future editions. All correspondence to LCN.editor@marsh.com ... - December 2009

To download Issue 1 click here (PDF in new window)

To download Issue 2 click here (PDF in new window)

TechTalk by U.S. Fire Administration - Disposal of Fire/Smoke Detectors (Vol.1 No.2 December 2009)

TechTalk provides accurate and timely information on topics of interest to the fire protection community. Topics are selected based on inquiries and suggestions.

This edition looks at the disposal of fire/smoke detectors. Depending on the location and type of fire or smoke detector you need to dispose of, there may be regulations that apply to the disposal of scrap detectors  ... click here to open this little reminder

Process Safety Leadership Group Final Report : Safety and Environmental Standards for Fuel Storage Sites

The PSLG Final report is an important step forward to improving process safety standards and leadership across our sector. We all agree that this was a significantly worthwhile endeavour in order to prevent another serious incident like Buncefield but it has been your efforts that have made it happen.

We also all recognise that the guidance in this report is only the starting point and that we must apply equal if not more effort to its implementation ... click here to open the report - December'09

Working with Modern Hydrocarbon and Oxygenated Solvents : A guide to Flammability

Solvents have many beneficial uses but they must be used safely.  This Guide provides general information about the safe use of hydrocarbon and oxygenated solvents in industrial settings, with a particular emphasis on hazards of fire and explosion

 ...click here to open the Guide (PDF in new window) - December'09

Process Safety Beacon - BLEVE

This Process Safety Beacon recounts the incident of a fatal fire and BLEVE which occurred 25 years ago in Mexico City at an LPG storage and distribution terminal.
 -- 600 people killed
 -- 7,000 people injured
 -- 200,000 people evacuated
 ...click here to access Beacon (PDF in new window) to read more - December'09

NFPA launches new Web pages to streamline access to technical document information

Details on more than 300 codes and standards available

The National Fire Protection (NFPA) introduced improved document information web pages to make finding information on its more than 300 codes and standards easier.  This project was developed based on feedback received from a survey of NFPA's technical committee members, the volunteers responsible for developing and revising NFPA documents, and other participants in the process ...click here to read more - November'09

GEXCON - Buncefield Investigation using FLACS

A short video of the use of FLACS explosion and dispersion simulation used during the investigation into explosion during the Buncefield event of November 2005. May be some similarities of high overpressures generated in Puerto Rico and the IOC explosions, and multi-tank fires (October 2009), following tank overfill and pipeline release respectively.  Observations of photographs and video from both these recent events show coppice, trees and shrubs in around the facility - just as was teh case at Buncefield.

3 minute video of GexCon's investigation and assistance into the Buncefield accident http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDVdipBgKSY (opens new window) - November'09

To access a high quality version, please download it from here (95MB) - November'09

The Problems with Long Bolt Flanges in process pipe connections when exposed to a fire!!

Also, called long bolt valves, sandwich, or wafer valves.  Devices such as control valves, butterfly valves, check valves, etc., with no integral flanges for bolting to the pipe or vessel flanges, and thus have exposed bolts of >3 inches. ...for PowerPoint presentation click here (opens new window) - November'09

A large storage tank containing a flammable liquid overflowed.  The spill was not detected until a security guard noticed a strong odor.  He immediately reported his concern to opertions personnel... click here (pdf) to read more (opens new windows)  - September'09

There has basically been a change to the labelling of chemical as agreed by the United Nations.  The UK agreed the changes and will be in compliance by the end of 2010 (as will the European Union). The presentation will give you an overview of the new Globally Harmonised System (GHS) of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals... on problem... North America have not agreed to the change! But it will be adopted in the EU/India/China, etc.  You will appreciate the fundamental change to response cards, labelling, etc., that this will bring.  The National Chemical Emergency Centre is a useful resource for information of transportation of hazardous chemicals.

Biofuel production and manufacturing facilities in the United States are increasing rapidly.  On August 8, 2005, President Bush signed the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (H.R.6) into law.  The comprehensive energy legislation includes a nationalwide renewable fuels standard (RFS) that will double the use of ethanol and biodiesel by 2012... click here to read more  - September'09

IAFC Free Download - Ethanol Training Material

This course addresses the needs of emergency responders when faced with incidents involving ethanol and ethanol-blended fuels.

Training Program: Responding to Ethanol Incidents

 -- Responding to Ethanol Incidents: Reference Materials (pdf)

 -- Student Guide (pdf)

 -- Instructor's Guide (pdf)

 -- PowerPoint presentations:

 -- Introduction : 01: Ethanol and Ethanol Blended Fuels : 02: Chemical and Physical Characteristics of Ethanol and Hydrocarbon Fuels : 03: Transportation and Transfer of Ethanol Blended Fuels : 04: Storage and Dispensing Locations : 05: Firefighting Foam Principles and Ethanol Blended Fuel : 06: Ethanol Blended Fuel Emergencies : 07: Tank Farm and Bulk Storage Fire Incidents

The Responding to Ethanol Incidents training program and Ethanol Fixed Facilities Guide are also available on CD while supplies last. Request a CD copy.

A companion document which provides a very useful appreciation of Ethanol Manufacture : Ethanol Fixed Facilities Guide (pdf)  - April'09

Study of the effectiveness of the Seveso II Directive

The Seveso II Directive (96/82/EC) on the cotrol of major accident hazards defines a number of requirements for the operators of industrial sites where a certain amount of dangerous substances exceeds the thresholds laid down in annex 1 of the directive have to define a major accident prevention policy, and for the upper tiers to establish a safety report, implement a safety management system and define an internal emergency plan.  These requirements aim at preventing major accidents and mitigating their consequences, in order to protect human health and the environment.  (PDF) - September'08

Necessary Measures for Preventing Major Accidents at Petroleum Storage Depots Key points and conclusions

This publication, “Necessary Measures for Preventing Major Accidents at Petroleum Storage Depots”, is the first of the Seveso Inspections Series. The publication series is one of a number of initiatives currently in place or in development to support implementation of the Directive and sponsored at EU level. In particular, a prime source of content for publications in this series is the Mutual Joint Visit (MJV) Programme for Seveso II Inspections. Launched in 1999, the European Commission’s MJV Programme was intended to serve as a vehicle for promoting technical exchange among Member State Seveso II inspectors. The aim of the programme was to encourage the sharing and adoption of best practices for inspections through a system of regular information exchange. (PDF) - July'08

The Buncefield Investigation Board’s 8th report is titled: "Recommendations on land use planning and the control of societal risk around major hazard sites". 

The report sets out the Buncefield Major Incident Investigation Board’s third set of recommendations, this time on the subject of land use planning and societal risk around major hazard sites.  (PDF) - July'08

Is sugar an explosion hazard ? (PDF) - May'08

Yes, if it is a fine powder or dust! Any material which can burn is capable of causing a catastrophic dust explosion if it is suspended as a fine dust or powder in air or other oxidizing atmosphere. On February 7, 2008 there was a severe explosion in a sugar refinery near Savannah, Georgia, USA. The explosion injured more than 30 people, and the death toll had reached 13 as of the end of March 2008. The explosion is still being investigated, and the detailed causes are not yet known. However, the initial investigation indicates that this was a dust explosion.

CCPS Process Safety Beacon Information (PDF) - May'08

The CCPS Process Safety Beacon is read by over half a million process safety and plant personnel in chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, consulting, insurance companies, government agencies, and other organizations in the US and worldwide.  The Beacon's target audience is front line manufacturing personnel, so the topics must relate to process safety.

Accident Epidemiology and the RMP Rule: Learning from a Decade of Accident History Data for the U.S. Chemical Industry (PDF) - April'08

This report describes analysis undertaken by an interdisciplinary team of researchers on accident history data collected under Clean Air Act, Section 112(r), enacted as part of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. Section 112(r) is also referred to as the Risk Management Program or RMP Rule, because this law and its implementing regulations impose requirements on facilities that manufacture or handle certain chemicals that encompass the development of a Risk Management Program and Plan for the facility.

Linking OII and RMP*Info Data: Does Everyday Safety Prevent Catastrophic Loss? (PDF) - April'08

We link the Risk Management Program (RMP) database of accident histories collected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the period 1996-2000 under section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act Amendments and OSHA reported Occupational Illnesses and Injuries (OII) for the same period. We explore various statistical associations between OIIs and RMP-reported accidents. If we think of OIIs as reflecting everyday safety performance and RMP accidents as reflecting major accidents, then the analysis can be considered a test of whether good everyday safety performance is a foundation for preventing or mitigating relatively rare major accidents. We find only weak evidence that this is the case for the U.S. chemical facilities reporting in the RMP database. The paper concludes with some implications of these findings for industrial risk management and research.

Predicting and Confirming the Effectiveness of Systems for Managing Low-Probability Chemical Process Risks (PDF) - April'08

This article addresses the role of a facility’s process safety management system (PSMS) in preventing low probability– high consequence (LP–HC) accidents. We review the rationale for the hypothesis that a facility’s PSMS is the central driver of accident prevention, and we discuss how this rationale has been incorporated implicitly into the OSHA Process Safety Management standard (PSM) in 1992 and explicitly into both the EU Seveso II Directive and the USA EPA Risk Management Program regulation (RMP) in 1996. We then note that the limited process accident incidence data available to date have not resolved the issue of determining or predicting characteristics of a facility’s PSMS that are likely to be effective in reducing LP–HC accidents. Based on a variety of considerations, the authors propose retrospective and prospective case-control studies

on facilities with and without RMP reported process accidents using candidate survey instruments to test which survey factors appear to have the greatest predictive power for the likelihood of future LP–HC accidents.

The adequacy of refuges, escape stairs and management procedures (PDF) - April'08

Three years after the explosion that killed 15 workers and injured 180 others at the BP Texas City refinery, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) today released a new, comprehensive safety video that describes the causes of the accident and key safety lessons.

Three Years after Explosion at Refinery, CSB Releases New Safety Video on Accident - Mar'08

Three years after the explosion that killed 15 workers and injured 180 others at the BP Texas City refinery, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) today released a new, comprehensive safety video that describes the causes of the accident and key safety lessons.

Pressure vessel failure during Hydrotest - Jan'08

Photos of a pressure vessel that recently failed whilst under hydrotest during post fabrication testing. This vessel was manufactured by a vessel vendor in China and the plate was of Chinese mill origin. Unfortunately this is another example of serious equipment/material failures with equipment being sourced out of the rapidly developing economies such as China, Eastern Bloc and others. These examples are becoming almost a weekly occurrence now and are exhibiting failure modes not seen in the mature manufacturing economies since the 1930's. Again we need to ensure vigilance in the acceptance of manufacturers and once more I stress the need to know where the base materials are sourced from.

Oil Tank Fire Caused by Static Discharge & Storage Tank Explosion and Fire in Glenpool, Oklahoma - Dec''07

An 80,000 barrel (3.6 million gallon, 12,700 cu. M.) floating roof storage tank exploded and burned while being filled with diesel oil at a petroleum product storage terminal. The tank contained approximately 7000 barrels (300,000 gallons, 1,100 cu. M) of diesel oil at the time of the incident, and had previously contained gasoline. The fire burned for 21 hours and damaged two nearby storage tanks. There were no injuries or fatalities, but the total loss was over two million US dollars, nearby residents were evacuated, and schools in the area were closed for two days.

UK HSE Key Programme 3 - Asset Integrity Study - Nov'07

A three year investigation and the inspection of nearly 100 offshore installations has resulted in the offshore industry receiving a stark warning from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The sector was told that while significant improvements had been made "more must be done!"

Excavation : Trench Safety Management - Nov'07

Glenpool Tank Fire Expect the Unexpected - Nov'07

“I have never been to a fire that didn’t present surprises or complexities at some point during the event.” This statement from Dwight Williams – President of Williams Fire & Hazard Control is the heart and soul of the real challenge before Industrial Firefighters.

PPG - Controlled Burn Guidance - Sept'07

Hydrogen Safety for First Responders - Aug'07

DOE's Introduction to Hydrogen Safety for First Responders is a Web-based course that provides an "awareness level" overview of hydrogen for fire, law enforcement, and emergency medical personnel. This multimedia tutorial acquaints first responders with hydrogen, its basic properties, and how it compares to other familiar fuels; hydrogen use in fuel cells for transportation and stationary power; potential hazards; initial protective actions should a responder witness an incident; and supplemental resources including videos, supporting documents, and links relevant to hydrogen safety.

Abridged versions of the training course will soon be available in print and on CD via DOE's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Information Center at 877-EERE-INFO/877-337-3463.

http://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/firstresponders.html

Explosion Mechanism Advisory Group report  - Aug'07

The Buncefield Major Incident Investigation Board (MIIB) has been overseeing a comprehensive investigation of the incident and has published a number of reports on its findings. One important aspect of the incident was that a severe explosion took place, which would not have been anticipated in any major hazard assessment of the oil storage depot before the incident.

The Board invited a team of explosion experts from academia and industry to form a working group to advise on the work that would be required to explain the severity of the Buncefield explosion.

Recommendations on the emergency preparedness for, response to and recovery from incidents - July'07

This report sets out recommendations to improve both planning for emergencies and the effectiveness of the response to emergencies at Buncefield-like sites and other high-hazard industrial facilities regulated under the COMAH1 regime. The recommendations are made by the independent Investigation Board, chaired by Lord Newton of Braintree, set up to supervise the investigation into the explosions and fires at the Buncefield oil storage depot, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire on 11 December 2005. The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) directed the investigation using its powers under section 14(2)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

OSHA Instruction : Petroleum Refinery Process Safety Management National Emphasis Program - June'07

This Instruction describes policies and procedures for implementing a National Emphasis Program (NEP) to reduce or eliminate the workplace hazards associated with the catastrophic release of highly hazardous chemicals at petroleum refineries.

WISER : Hazmat Tool -- Free Download - June'07

Chlorine Emergencies an Overview for First Responders -- First Responder DVD - May'07

The Chlorine Institute (CI) is pleased to announce the completion and availability of a new training DVD for first responders.

Groundbreaking study of smoke characterization could change the face of fire safety - May'07

Protection Research Foundation (FPRF) and Laboratories (UL) announced the completion of a study that enhances the fire safety community’s understanding of modern fire hazards and may eventually lead to changes in how people are kept safer from fire.

Buncefield Major Incident Investigation Board Publish Recommendations on the Design and Operation of Fuel Storage Sites - Apr'07

The Buncefield Major Incident Investigation Board (MIIB) is publishing its 5th report [PDF 847kb], required by the investigation terms of reference into the Buncefield incident on 11 December 2005.

Fire at Sea: Risk Assessment for the Maritime Incident Response Group (MIRG) - Apr'07

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has developed a formal strategy in partnership with a number of United Kingdom Local Authority Fire & Rescue Services who can assist the Coastguard with incidents of fire, chemical release and industrial accidents on ships in the UK Search and Rescue (SAR) Region.

New TOTAL portables offer premium-brand performance - Feb'07

Tyco Fire Suppression Group has launched an extensive new range of portable extinguishers in the UK under the TOTAL brand.  John Allen, EMEA Marketing Director of Tyco Fire & Security’s Fire Suppression Group explains what sets them apart in the market, and  describes some of the innovative special application portables that are in the new line-up.

Clearing the fog around watermist - Nov' 2006

While watermist systems have been used for some time in industrial and certain types of commercial premises, and are also increasingly being used in maritime applications, the significant contribution they can make to fire safety is still not fully appreciated.

The Buncefield Investigation - progress report - Feb' 2006

Check out the Technical Archive for more reports and articles