Conference Papers
In 2005, a large vapor cloud explosion (VCE) at the BP Texas City refinery resulted in multiple fatalities in or near portable office trailers within close proximity to process areas. As a result, the American Petroleum Institute (API) issued API RP 753 “Management of Hazards Associated with Location of Process Plant Portable Buildings” in 2007 to ensure the safe placement of portable buildings at hazardous facilities. The second edition of API RP 753 was released in January of 2024, with updates to the original guidance. This paper provides a systematic discussion of an exemplary portable building siting analysis for blast loading using the requirements of the updated API RP 753.
The paper also provides examples of internal debris hazards associated with the blast response of four distinct types of portable buildings: ISO container, light wood trailer (LWT), blast-rated wood building (BRWB), and a semi-trailer outfitted as a tool trailer. Blast responses and associated internal nonstructural debris hazards of each portable building were observed during full-scale testing with BakerRisk’s Deflagration Load Generator (DLG).
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.
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