Conference Papers
Facilities that handle hazardous materials above threshold quantities are required to assess the impacts due to postulated accidents involving releases of these materials, and to ensure that people are adequately protected from the associated fire, explosion, and toxic hazards. An analysis of these hazards can be based solely on consequences from maximum credible events or can incorporate the likelihood of the events to characterize results in terms of risk. The methods of performing these analyses may vary, but, regardless of the specific techniques used, fundamental principles of thoroughness and defensibility should be achieved. This paper describes best practices and basic requirements for consequence-based and risk-based facility siting studies (FSSs), also commonly referred to as quantitative risk analyses (QRAs), consistent with industry guidance. The fundamental objective of a consequence-based or risk-based FSS is to ensure that the consequences or risks posed by facility operations are minimized to the extent practical.
Mr. Mander is a member of BakerRisk’s Structures Group. His work focuses on the blast analysis and design of buildings due to accidental or malicious explosions Select prominent projects include blast-resistant modular buildings, airport traffic control towers, county courthouses, and hardened containment structures for the automotive, pharmaceutical, and oil exploration industries. He leads Research and Development efforts at BakerRisk and actively serves on the American Concrete Institute (ACI) and Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) blast committees. Mr. Mander has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings and has patented precast modular design work that has received a national award from PCI.
Mr. Sarrack is a member of BakerRisk’s Process Safety Group. His expertise is focused on process safety and risk analysis, where he has participated in hazard analysis teams, both as a contributor and as a team leader. His expertise also extends to the development of Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) and Event Tree Analysis (ETA), equipment reliability studies and failure data, and has executed source term and consequence analysis.
Mr. Sarrack has developed cost vs. benefit analyses for proposed facility modifications and provided technical risk analysis expertise to numerous plant decision processes. He has also produced risk management guidelines, as well as implemented procedures for performance of Facility Siting Studies (FSS) and Quantitative Risk Assessments (QRAs) for multiple companies.
Mr. Diakow is a member of BakerRisk’s Blast Effects group. His work focuses executing Facility Siting Studies (FSS), Quantitative Risk Assessments (QRA), Incident Investigations, and Dust Hazard Analyses (DHA). He has over a decade of experience in experimental testing and research with a focus on vapor cloud explosions, vented deflagrations, and deflagration to detonation transition (DDT). Mr. Diakow currently leads the Hydrogen group as part of BakerRisk’s Low Carbon Energy Risk Management services.
Mr. Bruce-Black is a member of BakerRisk’s Process Safety Group. His work focuses on performing and managing Facility Siting Studies (FSS), Quantitative Risk Assessments (QRA), Business Interruption Studies, Audits, Process Hazard Analyses (PHA), and Hazardous Area Classification Studies (HAC) for leading U.S. petrochemical and chemical companies. He has provided FSS/QRA and risk mitigation training to organizations, conferences, and for clients as part of the BakerRisk Learning Center. He also has extensive experience with the development of FSS/QRA Procedures/Guidelines and consequence/risk tolerance criteria and has identified and evaluated cost-effective risk mitigation measures to allow companies to make informed risk management decisions.
As the biofuels industry continues to expand in support of global decarbonization mandates and objectives, facility owners and developers are being challenged to balance production efficiency, operational reliability, and personnel safety.
As high hazard facilities, biofuels sites should focus on developing a fire protections strategy informed by performance-based analysis so strategies implemented meet the unique challenges found at each facility.