Testing of Protective Equipment

On-site commissioning tests of protection equipment must be carried out in a planned logical manner, and arranged so that the disturbance of tested equipment is minimized. 

Key Performance Indicators Preparation for maintenance, the control of modifications, and the testing of protective equipment are examples of key performance indicators i.e., taken together, they indicate uie quality of the plant s and company s process safety. If they are below standard, the plant is at risk. The usual measure of safety, the lost-time accident (LTA) rate, does not measure process safety. Many companies that had a low LTA rate and assumed that their process safety was therefore under control have experienced serious fires and explosions. 

One sometimes comes across a piece of protective equipment that is impossible to test. All protective equipment should be designed so that it can be tested easily. 

Efficient water usage for hazard protected. Periodic water testing may accelerate or induce corrosion of protected equipment. 

ASTM E 1529 Standard Test Methods for Determining Effects of Large Eiydrocarbon Pool Fires on Structural Members and Assemblies and Underwriters Laboratories Inc. 1709 Standard for Rapid Rise Fire Tests of Protection Materials for Structural Steel are two tests which are used to evaluate the performance of structures, equipment, and protective materials to hydrocarbon fires (see Figure 5-17). 

Many facilities outsource either all or part of the inspection, testing, and maintenance functions to fire protection service companies. These companies perform a variety of services, including inspection of portable and fixed systems, flow test of water systems, operational test of portable equipment, testing of... 

Field testing of real equipment may be conducted on small, or pilot plants, or full-scale installations. The main disadvantage of this type of testing is the expense and time required. The advantage is that the data and information more accurately reflects actual operating conditions than that obtained in the laboratory. In these pilot plant environments, materials may be evaluated to determine the type of oxides formed and the degree of protection provided. This in turn provides information to permit selection of the material that will provide the required service life. 

Where exhaust ventilation equipment or respiratory protective equipment (except disposable respiratory protective equipment) is provided to meet the requirements of these Regulations, the employer shall ensure that thorough examinations and tests of that equipment are carried out at suitable irrtervals by a competent person. 

A brief summary of safety and health hazards follows detailed health hazards, however, should be obtained from producers by requesting Material Safety Data Sheets. Proper protective equipment and exposure hazards should be noted before handling any alkan olamine. Detailed toxicological testing is found in the CTEA Chemical Ingredient Review Board Reports on ethanolamines and isopropanolamines (24). 

Environmental Enclosures Enclosures for valve accessories are sometimes required to provide protection from specific environmental conditions. The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) provides descriptions and test methods for equipment used in specific environmental conditions in NEMA 250. Protection against rain, windblown dust, hose-directed water, and external ice formation are examples of environmental conditions that are covered by NEMA standards. 

For many years the usual procedure in plant design was to identify the hazards, by one of the systematic techniques described later or by waiting until an accident occurred, and then add on protec tive equipment to control future accidents or protect people from their consequences. This protective equipment is often complex and expensive and requires regular testing and maintenance. It often interferes with the smooth operation of the plant and is sometimes bypassed. Gradually the industry came to resize that, whenever possible, one should design user-friendly plants which can withstand human error and equipment failure without serious effects on safety (and output and emciency). When we handle flammable, explosive, toxic, or corrosive materials we can tolerate only very low failure rates, of people and equipment—rates which it may be impossible or impracticable to achieve consistently for long periods of time. 

The test equipment is the same as described for degree of protection I. But the enclosure under lest is tilted up to an angle of 15° in respect of its normal operating position successively, in iw o planes at right angles (to cover all four sides). The total duration of the test will be 10 minutes (2.5 minutes each side). The lesl results should be the same as for degree of protection I. 

The lesl is similar to that described for degree of protection 3 except that the oscillating lube will now oscillate through an angle of almost 180° with respect to the vertical in both directions and at a speed of 90° per second. The support for the equipment under test may be grid-shaped, so that no w aier is accumulated at the base. The duration of the lesl will be 10 minutes. 

Health Hazards Information - Recommended Personal Protective Equipment Goggles or face shield dust mask Symptoms Following Exposure Inhalation of dust may causes irritation of nose and throat. Contact with eyes or skin causes irritation. Ingestion has been observed to cause tremors and muscle spasms in test animals General Treatment for Exposure INHALATION move to fresh air. EYES flush with water for at least 15 min. SKIN flush with water wash with soap and water. INGESTION get medical attention Toxicity by Inhalation (Thresholdlimit Value) Data not available Short-Term Inhalation limits Data not available Toxicity by Ingestion Grade 2 oral LDjq = 3,800 mg/kg (rat) Late Toxicity Causes cancer in rats Vapor (Gas) Irritant Characteristics Data not available liquid or Solid Irritant Characteristics Data not available Odor Threshold Not pertinent. 

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