A further example of our dedication to investing in research, the Explosion Research Cooperative (ERC) is a joint industry research program started by BakerRisk in 1993 to serve as a resource for the oil, gas, and chemical processing industries to come together and share research, experiences, and best practices. The research supports improvements in explosion hazard models, structural damage, injury models, and structural design techniques to mitigate these hazards.
The ERC is funded by chemical, petrochemical, and refining companies interested in understanding and predicting explosion hazards and their consequences on buildings, process equipment, and people. Research studies focus on preventing or mitigating explosions, quantifying hazards, analyzing siting of occupied buildings, designing protective structures, and upgrading existing buildings to resist blast and thermal loads. The goal of this ongoing program is to undertake studies aimed at solving problems common throughout chemical processing industries and sharing the results, benefits, and costs among all participating companies.
Most organizations are not equipped to conduct the scale of research and testing needed to improve the prediction and risk management of accidental explosions. The ERC utilizes pooled funds from each of the participating companies in a cost-effective way to conduct such research and promote the exchange of information and results.
The projects, scope of work, and proposed budgets are defined by vote of all participating companies at ERC meetings.
Representative studies from past years include:
- VCE Blast Pressure Prediction
- VCE Blast Loading on Buildings
- Conditions Required for VCE deflagration to detonation transition (DDT)
- External Blast Loads from Vented Dust Explosions
- Probabilistic Treatment of Building Damage Assessments
- Mixed Congestion VCE Testing
- Laminar Burning Velocity of Hydrogen-Hydrocarbon Mixtures
- Blast Pressure Infiltration into Buildings
- Blast Wall Size, Position, and Blast Load Guidance
- Improving Structural Modeling of Reinforced Concrete and Masonry
- Improved Structural Modeling for Pre-engineered Metal Buildings
- Far Field Structural Damage from Accidental Explosions
- Tent Damage Model Validation
- Tent Occupant Vulnerability
- Glass Hazard Model Improvements
- Thermal Response of Buildings
- Physics-Based Occupant Vulnerability Model
Great Benefits When You Join
Semi-annual Meetings
Semi-annual meetings provide opportunities to interact with industry representatives.
Leveraged Research Funding
Leveraged research funding – the pooling of research funds allows participating companies to receive over 20x their investment in research each year
Previous Years' Research
ERC participants have the ability to purchase ALL previous years’ research.