Weak Walls Wanted—But Alternate Attachments Contributed to the Damage

Weak Walls Wanted—But Alternate Attachments Contributed to the Damage 

Compressors handling flammable gases have the potential to leak. Ideally such compressors should be installed outdoors so that leaks can disperse. At times, compressors are designed to operate within buildings, such as within very cold climates. 

In one reported case, a construction manager reviewed the drawings of a gas compressor building before construction. He observed that very weak clips were specified to secure the plastic sheets to the structure. He apparently did not understand the concept, because he decided they were too weak and replaced the specified clips with more robust clips. 

An explosion occurred. The walls did not immediately blow off until the pressure was much higher than the designers intended. The resulting damage was more severe than it should have been. [14] 

An Explosion Could Have Been Avoided if Gasket Specifications Were Utilized 

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Weak walls wanted - but alternate attachments contributed to the damage... 

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