Occupied buildings

Societal riskfor onsite workers in occupied buildings (API 752)... 

While industry is striving to prevent such accidents, they still may occur. However, as indicated by the accidents in Denver, Colorado, and Linden, New Jersey, proper design and siting of occupied buildings can substantially reduce the risks of fatality. 

The particular facility under review is a unit producing a reactive material from a high-burning velocity hydrocarbon. The company has established internal guidelines for evaluating occupied buildings that are exposed to identified explosion hazards. 

Three buildings were identified as occupied buildings per company guidelines. These were ... 

Each occupied building was qualitatively ranked according to frequency and consequence per Table 5.2 and Table 5.4. Consequence ratings were based upon the results of the previously conducted consequence assessments. Frequency estimates were based upon consensus estimates of the HAZOP team. Risk rankings were then determined per Figure 5.1. 

Similar qualitative studies were conducted for the remaining occupied buildings. To further reduce the risk to occupants of the maintenance and stores, and administration buildings, several options were considered ... 

The technology can be used at sites with occupied buildings. 

Figure 2.8 shows a correlation between the mass of the secondary explosive used and the safe distance for occupied buildings. Of course this is only a very rough guide and it is dependent on the building and the nature of the explosive used. 

Fig. 2.8 Safe distance for occupied buildings from the detonation of a secondary explosive.

If wet wipes are used, care must be exercised to avoid damaging the surfaces being monitored. Solvents other than water may remove substances (e.g. furniture and floor waxes) from the surface that can cause analytical interferences. In addition, if the solvent is capable of extracting the pesticide residue from beneath the surface being wiped, the residue recovered may overestimate the amount of dislodgeable residue. Special care should be taken when using flanunable solvents indoors. Toxic solvents should never be used in occupied buildings. While 2-propanol and ethanol are relatively safe for use in occupied indoor... 

Equipment subject to explosion hazard must be set away from occupied buildings and areas. 

Indoor air quality is one of the key determinants of the acceptability of an indoor environment. Indoor air pollution in occupied buildings is often higher... 

Plot plan layout indicating location of vessels, occupied buildings and equipment... 

The unit is located on the hill in open terrain. The distance from the nearest occupied building is greater than 1000 m. The installation is enclosed the entrance to the installation is for employees only or by permission. The territory itself covers an area of approximately 2000 m. On the territory there are three radars which are located on an extensive area and take a larger part of the installation. They are facing buildings and situated on elevated mounds three metres high. In a routine situation, at least two radars are in operation. Their specifications are presented in Table 1. 

Q. You would like clarification on a provision in the asbestos standard for construction, .1101 (k)(2)(ii)(D), which states that building and facility owners shall notify tenants who will occupy building areas containing asbestos-containing material (ACM) and presumed asbestos-containing material (PACM). You asked whether, under that provision, tenants are required to be notified only when there is a disturbance of ACM or PACM in their spaces You also asked if there was any requirement under the general industry standard for asbestos ( 1910.1001) for building owners to notify tenants of the presence of ACM. 

A. This provision in the construction asbestos standard requires building and facility owners to notify tenants who will occupy building areas of the presence, location, and quantity of ACM and PACM in their spaces. This provision is triggered when any construction work, as defined by 1926.1101, is planned, per paragraph (k)(2)(i). The notification requirement is not limited to situations in which a disturbance of ACM or PACM will be taking place in the presence of the tenant. Tenants must be informed in advance in order to protect themselves from asbestos hazards, and so they may, in turn, inform any subtenants, housekeeping services, or other maintenance or construction employers that may be contracted by the tenants to perform work in the leased space where there is the potential for contact with ACM or PACM. 

Much excavation work is needed to repair mains (water or gas), piped services or cables (electrical power or telecommunications) which are feeding occupied buildings. It is crucial that there is effective communication between the excavation contractors and the building occupants throughout all stages of the project. The pipe or cable must be isolated before work begins. If the work... 

The preventative steps for liquid fuels are to first identify their locations within the building. Second, ensure that the material safety data sheets are acquired and current for each of these materials. Next, establish policies for the safe storage and use of these liquid fuels. For example, if there are facility issues that require diesel fuel or gasoline, make certain that the fuel remains out of the occupied buildings and is locked away in an appropriate flammable liquids storage cabinet. Limit or prevent student interaction with this location. 

This guidance should not be used for occupied building assessments or land use planning purposes due to the current uncertainty in the explosion mechanism. 

Following the explosion at Buncefieid. the most severe human safety consequence should now be assumed to be an explosion that may cause damage to occupied buildings or places where people may congregate. The explosion will be accompanied by a flash fire and will probably result in multiple pool fires. 

Air Intakes Air intakes to occupied building heating and ventilation systems, air compressors for process, instrumentation, and breathing air, and to prime movers for gas compressors, power generation, and pumps should be located as far as practical (both horizontally or vertically) from contamination from dusts, toxic and flammable materials release sources. They should not be located in electrically classified areas. If close to possible vapor releases (as confirmed by dispersion analyses), they should be fitted with toxic or combustible gas detection devices to warn of possible air intake hazards and shutdown fans or isolate (through re-circulation) the incoming air. 

Semi or permanendy occupied buildings required to be in or adjacent to process areas should be constructed to withstand explosive overpressures or they should be relocated at a distance not expected to receive an explosive overpressure that would inflict serious damage on the structure. Nonessential personnel or facihties should always be relocated to areas that are not vulnerable to explosions. 

Where sensors are located in the occupied building space they should be positioned at points where gas ingress is most likely, for example ... 

The level of responsibility and accountability of the fire safety manager will need to reflect the organisation however, any safety management structure should provide for clear lines of responsibility, authority, accountability and resources, in particular in relation to common areas within multiple occupied buildings/premises. 

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