2004 02 Flammable Gas in Enclosed Space
2
How This Relates to Process Safety and How This Relates to Process Safety and What You Can Do to be Safe ! What You Can Do to be Safe ! This event may seem to have little relationship to process safety in chemical plants, but NUMEROUS building and vessel explosions have occurred under similar conditions!!! • Storing flammables of any kind in an enclosed area is risky business. Small leaks can lead to flammable mixtures in a portion of, or an entire building. Then, only an ignition source is needed—and, ignition sources are very easy to find! • Store flammable liquids in containers and cabinets specially designed for such u se. Be especially alert for solvents used in maintenance activities. • Store flammable gases in the open or well ventilated areas so that small leaks can dissipate and NOT accumulate. Particularly watch out for instrument calibration gases and welding bottles. • Remember that some gases are heavier than air and some are lighter. Provide the appropriate ventilation. • Know and consider where and how explosive mixtures might accumulate in piping systems or process vessels, such as in the head space of atmospheric tanks. Be prepared to recognize when flammables are present and react quickly to prevent ignition. CCP An AIChE Industry Technology Alliance Sponsored by CCPS Supporters P P rocess rocess S S afety afety B B eacon eacon http: //www.aiche.org/ccps /safetybeacon.htm Messages for Manufacturing Personnel February 2004 Here’s What Happened: How Did This Happen? • Acetylene is one of those gases that has a very wide flammability range. In fact, acetylene is flammable in concentrations from 2.5% to 82% in air. • It took only a very small leak to eventually fill the cab of this truck with the ¼ pound of acetylene needed to reach a flammable mixture. • When the door was opened, the flammable mixture “found” an ignition source. • In this case, the driver was seriously injured, but luckily, was not killed. CENTER FOR CHEMICAL PROCESS SAFETY AIChE © 2003. All rights reserved. R eproduction for non-commercial, educational pu rposes is encouraged. However, repro duction for the purpose o f resale by a nyone other th an CCPS is s trictly prohibited. Contact us at [email protected] or 212-591-7319 S S Flammable Gas in Enclosed Space = BOOM ! Flammable Gas in Enclosed Space = BOOM ! A pickup truck with a small cylinder of acetylene stored in the cab was parked for the weekend. Unfortunately, the cylinder had a VERY small leak. Because all the windows were closed, a flammable atmosphere was developed inside the truck’s cab. When the owner returned on Monday and opened the door---BOOM. You can see the results. Flammable materials in unventilated areas is an explosion waiting to happen! This edition i s also availa ble in German, French and S panish. Contact CCPS at ccps_beacon@aiche .org for information.
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Transcript of 2004 02 Flammable Gas in Enclosed Space
8/3/2019 2004 02 Flammable Gas in Enclosed Space
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2004-02-flammable-gas-in-enclosed-space 1/1
How This Relates to Process Safety andHow This Relates to Process Safety and
What You Can Do to be Safe !What You Can Do to be Safe !
This event may seem to have little relationship to process safetyin chemical plants, but NUMEROUS building and vessel
explosions have occurred under similar conditions!!!
• Storing flammables of any kind in an enclosed area is
risky business. Small leaks can lead to flammablemixtures in a portion of, or an entire building. Then, onlyan ignition source is needed—and, ignition sources arevery easy to find!
• Store flammable liquids in containers and cabinetsspecially designed for such use. Be especially alert forsolvents used in maintenance activities.
• Store flammable gases in the open or well ventilatedareas so that small leaks can dissipate and NOTaccumulate. Particularly watch out for instrument
calibration gases and welding bottles.• Remember that some gases are heavier than air andsome are lighter. Provide the appropriate ventilation.
• Know and consider where and how explosive mixturesmight accumulate in piping systems or process vessels,such as in the head space of atmospheric tanks. Beprepared to recognize when flammables are present andreact quickly to prevent ignition.
CCPAn AIChE Industry
Technology Alliance
Sponsoredby
CCPSSupporters
P P rocessrocess S S afetyafety B Beaconeaconhttp: //www.aiche.org/ccps/safetybeacon.htm
Messages for Manufacturing Personnel
February 2004
Here’s What Happened:
How Did This Happen?
• Acetylene is one of those
gases that has a very wide
flammability range. In fact,acetylene is flammable in
concentrations from 2.5% to
82% in air.
• It took only a very small
leak to eventually fill the cab
of this truck with the ¼ pound
of acetylene needed to reach a
flammable mixture.
• When the door was opened,
the flammable mixture
“found” an ignition source.
• In this case, the driver was
seriously injured, but luckily,
was not killed.
CENTER FOR
CHEMICAL PROCESS SAFETY
AIChE © 2003. All rights reserved. Reproduction for non-commercial, educational purposes is encouraged. However, reproductionfor the purpose of resale by anyone other than CCPS is strictly prohibited. Contact us at [email protected] or 212-591-7319
SS
Flammable Gas in Enclosed Space = BOOM !Flammable Gas in Enclosed Space = BOOM !
A pickup truck with a small
cylinder of acetylene stored
in the cab was parked for the
weekend. Unfortunately, the
cylinder had a VERY small
leak. Because all the
windows were closed, a
flammable atmosphere was
developed inside the truck’s
cab. When the owner returned on Monday and
opened the door---BOOM.
You can see the results.
Flammable materials in unventilated areas is an explosion waiting to happen!
This edition is also available in German, French and Spanish. Contact CCPS at [email protected] for information.
