Facility Siting & Consequence Modeling

PSM and RMP regulations include a requirement to address facility siting. Facility siting can be viewed in multiple parts each with increasing level of effort and details.

 Complete facility siting analysis extends well beyond what is performed as part of the Process Hazard Analysis effort. Facility siting conducts an evaluation of the spatial relationships within a plant and between a plant and surrounding area. Traditionally the focus was the spacing between process equipment. Now, the emphasis is on the location of process hazards in respect to employees at the plant, as well as emergency response and plant security. If addressed during a PHA, potential issues must be addressed both globally (i.e. the location of the control room) and at a local level within each node. Calculations will address location vulnerability (overpressure, radiant heat and toxic gas). Process Risk references API 752 and API 753 on permanent and portable buildings for facility siting.

 A robust facility siting assessment will help your company to recognize and then minimize the potential hazards of the facility operations to the employees, equipment and the surrounding community.” OSHA expects that impacts of accidents on people present in structures such as control rooms, trailers, offices, and motor control centers be considered. 

Details

Development of a Facility Siting program for your company.

 Process Risk can provide advice and guidance on the content of a facility siting program tailored to your specific needs. We provide a written plan that integrates with your current systems and programs, and, if requested, provide assistance with its implementation.  A common way of complying with OSHA’s regulatory requirement is to use a checklist of questions to identify, evaluate and control hazards associated with facility siting. More detailed Facility Siting Analysis (FSA) studies examine the ability of occupied buildings to withstand fires, explosions and the ingress of toxic materials.

Performance of PHA studies that incorporate Facility Siting

 We can help ensure your PHAs address facility siting to meet OSHA’s expectations and requirements. The PHA report documents the approach used and the PHA worksheets contain entries showing the impact of Facility Siting on hazard scenarios.

 Performance of Facility Siting studies to identify issues and evaluate the ability of occupied buildings to withstand fires, explosions and toxic material ingress.

 We can conduct studies on your entire facility or individual process areas. Toxic release, blast over-pressure and thermal radiation footprints are overlaid on the facility plot plan and an occupied building analysis performed. A report is prepared that documents the issues identified and provides an assessment of building integrity. Results of a FSA study can be referenced during a subsequent PHA study.

Auditing your current facility siting practices against regulatory requirements and/or industry best practices.

 We provide an audit report that identifies findings and presents recommendations for corrective actions. If needed, we can help you implement the corrective actions.

Other Information

 A common outline of facility siting study highlights include:  

• Identifying vulnerable locations of control rooms, and other buildings that may be occupied by people.
  
• Identifying hazard scenarios that could have significant effects on occupied buildings. 
• Spacing between the hazards in a process and the locations of employees in occupied buildings.
  
• Spacing of process units and equipment.
  
• Spacing between potential sources of flammable releases and ignition sources.
  
• Domino effects, i.e.: the potential for an incident to propagate from one process area to another separate area.
  
• Emergency response issues, e.g.
  
• Availability of emergency equipment
  
• Location of fire suppression systems
  
• Accessibility for fire trucks
  
• Accessibility of fire hydrants / monitors
  
• Locations of emergency refuges and muster points
  
• Ability of an occupied building to provide sheltering-in-place
  
• Suitability of evacuation routes
  
• Adequacy of hazardous area classifications