API Issues Portable Bldg Siting Guidelines

New guidance provides information on siting portable buildings to reduce risk of injury to personnel.

API, the national trade association of the U.S. oil and natural gas industry, has issued a new recommended practice that provides guidance for reducing the risk to personnel located in portable buildings from potential explosion, fire and toxic release hazards.

BakerRisk participated on the Facility Siting Task Force that developed Recommended Practice 753 ("Management of Hazards Associated with Location of Process Plant Portable Buildings') in response to new data and information about the use of trailers at refineries, including information gained from the investigation of the Texas City refinery tragedy.

There are four objectives for RP 753:

  • Provide guidance on the safe placement of portable buildings;
  • Minimize the presence of personnel in refinery process areas;
  • Minimize the use of occupied portable buildings in refinery process areas; and
  • Design, construct and install these buildings or trailers to better protect occupants.


    • For more information on ordering RP 753 and all API publications, visit www.api.org/cat.

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