Fire And Explosion Hazards

Our fire and explosion hazards courses discuss how flash fire and explosion hazards arise in manufacturing processes, how they can be systematically identified and assessed, and how the most appropriate basis of safety can be selected and implemented. Courses are offered at 3 levels:

  • Introductory Level
  • Core Competency
  • Advanced

Here we illustrate a typical course at the Core Competency level. Sample course:
How to identify and control them in your process

Who Should Attend

Personnel (e.g., management, technical, operations and maintenance) involved with process safety, EH&S, process design, operations and maintenance from the chemical & processing industries, including bulk and finished pharmaceuticals, chemicals, petrochemicals, oil and gas, food, plastic & rubber, metals, textiles, wood & paper and agrochemicals who desire a more in depth and practical understanding of fire and explosion hazard assessment and control.

Learning Objectives

This course has been designed to show how both flash fire and explosion hazards arise in manufacturing processes, how they can be systematically identified and assessed, and how the most appropriate basis of safety can be selected and implemented. We do this by developing your understanding of explosions and fires and by making use of real-life examples of explosion prevention/ protection measures in a plant. The course will provide participants with:

  • An understanding of explosion characteristics of vapor and dust cloud atmospheres
  • Methods to identify locations where flammable atmospheres could be present
  • Ways of identifying potential ignition sources that could be present under normal and abnormal conditions, including electrostatic ignition sources
  • An understanding of practical measures to prevent flash fires and explosions and protect against their effects
  • Knowledge of available Codes and Standards for managing flammable gas, vapor, and dust cloud flash fire and explosion hazards

Course Outline

  • Introduction
    • Conditions for a gas/vapor cloud explosion
    • Conditions for a dust cloud explosion
  • Understanding the Flammability Characteristics of Materials
    • Sensitivity to ignition (ignition energy, flammable range, ignition temperature)
    • Explosion Severity (explosion pressures, Kst numbers and what they mean)
  • Basis of Safe Operation
    • Elimination of ignition sources
      • Thermal instability
      • Electrical equipment
      • Mechanical friction
    • Controlling fire and explosion hazards due to electrostatic discharges
    • Avoidance of flammable atmospheres
      • Exclusion of fuel (gas, vapor, dust clouds)
      • Exclusion of oxygen
    • Provision against the consequences of ignition
      • Explosion containment
      • Explosion suppression
      • Explosion relief venting
      • Explosion isolation
    • Case Studies
    • Class Workshop
    • Discussions

Course Description

Many operations in the process industries involve the handling and processing of liquids and powders, most of which could, under certain conditions, be flammable.  Flammable gas, vapor, and dust cloud atmospheres can be ignited if a sufficiently energetic ignition source is present.  Ignition of a flammable atmosphere occurs if the ignition-source energy exceeds the minimum energy that is required to ignite the fuel/air mixture at the given process conditions.  A flash-fire or explosion hazard can exist during the transfer, handling, processing and packaging of many flammable liquids and powders.  Flash fires and explosions can lead to catastrophic events involving fatalities, injuries, community impact, facility damage and economic losses. Therefore, safe manufacturing requires employers to take measures that avoid flash fires and explosions and to protect people and plants from their consequences. This course teaches you how you can be certain you have identified all the hazards in your facility and how you can be certain that the control measures you are taking are practical and effective. Why Work With Stonehouse Process Safety

We also offer virtual process safety training courses such as Exploding dusts, Explosions, Static Electricity and HAC (Hazardous Area Classification).  Find out more here.

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