Chemical Sciences Journal

Applying a Hazard Area Classification Study on an (Liquefied Petroleum Gas/Synthetic Natural Gas) System in a Steel Factory to Highlight Major Hazards.

Abstract

Khaled Habib Ezzat, Moustapha Salem Mansour, Ibrahim Ismail Ibrahim and Fathy Ahmed Shoukry

As a global trend, safety has become the number one priority in all industries worldwide. This leads any organization either It is in the design phase or already in production to design or modify respectively it’s layout and Installations to comply with safety standards. One of the most important hazards that are common in most industries, either it is petrochemical, non-petrochemical or even FMCG (Food Manufacturing and Customer Goods) industries, is the Explosion Hazard. According to the most recent fire statistics from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA): An average of 37,000 fires occurs at industrial and manufacturing properties every year. These incidents resulted in 18 civilian deaths, 279 civilian injuries and $1 billion in direct property damage. It is a smart step to take a preventive action towards explosions, rather than a corrective action. As a matter of fact, as every industry requires a type of fuel – which is usually flammable- to run its operations, one of the most common units in all industries nevertheless what category it falls into, is the LPG/SNG (liquefied Petroleum Gas/Synthetic Natural Gas) unit. As much as this unit is important and mandatory to any industry, it is considered one of the most potential areas of explosions as well. Hazard area classification (HAC) is a study in which an industrial area is divided into zones according to the probability of the presence of combustible or flammable material in that zone. There are different standards for applying the study, and different outcomes according to the condition of the zone, this includes the material, pressure and temperature. In this paper we will discuss the HAC study of one of the most common units in industry, which is the LPG/SNG system. The aim of the study is to be a good reference for industries that have this unit or have a need to install it and needs to apply a preventive HAC study on it to mitigate explosion risk.