BakerRisk presenting at the Virtual Environmental, Health & Safety (TCC EHS) Seminar

Our team will be presenting the following topics at the Virtual Texas/Louisiana EHS Seminar, June 7 & 8, 2021. Visit the conference website to register for this event: www.ehs-seminar.com/aws/TCC/pt/sp/EHS_home_page

Peter Diakow, Senior Consultant

Presenting: “Effect of Congestion Inside Enclosures During Vapor Cloud Explosions”

Monday, June 7, 2021, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM CT

BakerRisk has performed a series of large-scale (13,800 cubic-feet) vented deflagration tests evaluating the effect of congestion inside an enclosure on the peak deflagration pressure achieved. Four (4) test series were conducted with a single congestion pattern that occupied 0%, 25%, 50%, or 100% of the enclosure volume. Comparisons of the test data (high-speed/high definition video, peak pressures and impulses) to calculations using standard methods commonly used to predict vented deflagration internal blast loads are provided. These methods include the National Fire Protection Association Standard on Explosion Protection by Deflagration Venting (NFPA 68), the British Standard’s Gas Explosion Venting Protective Systems (EN 14994), and the FLACS computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code.

Quentin Baker

Presenting: “Hazards Inside BRMs”

Tuesday, June 8, 2021 @ 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM CT

Research performed in the past few years has revealed that occupants of blast resistant modules (BRMs) may be exposed to internal hazards from an external explosion or fire. Many BRMs are rated for significant blast pressures, often up to 8 psi. BRMs are designed not to fail at their rated blast load, but the walls and roof will deform, potentially creating internal debris hazards from architectural features, furnishings and equipment. BRMs can also slide laterally in a blast event at high accelerations, causing potential personnel fall and equipment toppling hazards. Direct flame impingement fire tests have shown that temperature rises and off-gassing of architectural items in BRMs can become life threatening in a matter of minutes. There is a false sense of security that BRMs can be placed at the overpressure contour of its rating with no hazard to occupants. The purpose of this presentation is to educate the audience on the hazards so that BRMs can be sited appropriately.

Alex Cardoso, Project II Consultant

Presenting: “Combustible Dust Hazards Analysis Overview and Common Issues”

Tuesday, June 8, 2021 @ 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM CT

A Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA) is a valuable tool in identifying and preventing or mitigating combustible dust fire and explosion hazards. A DHA is also required under the relevant NFPA standard (i.e., NFPA 652) and should be complete by September 2020 for all facilities that handle or generate combustible dust. This article summarizes the elements of a DHA and identifies common hazards observed across a range of industries handling a variety of combustible particulate solids. The identified common hazards have all been causal factors in actual combustible dust fire or explosion incidents that resulted in the loss of life or severe injury, in addition to the loss of capital assets and business interruption. Performing a robust DHA should identify such hazards and, using the guidance provided in relevant NFPA standards, identify prevention and mitigation strategies that can be implemented to manage the risk associated with combustible dust fire and explosion hazards.