The best course for safety traditionally lies in ensuring people are located far from hazards.
Unfortunately, there are instances when that is not possible. O&G refineries fall into this category. Blast-resistant buildings protect those who must work close to hazards. They may be temporary or permanent structures, but they are present due to the potential for saving lives and protecting valuable assets should a catastrophic event occur.
Blast-resistant buildings are designed to withstand various hazards, including blasts, thermal loads and toxic releases. Their modular construction allows for quick and efficient installation, making them an ideal choice for rapidly deployable solutions and as little time spent in hazardous areas during installation and construction as possible. Blast-resistant modular buildings have many benefits and require careful design considerations to ensure their safety and effectiveness.
Before a blast-resistant building is ever placed on a hazardous work site, the site needs to be evaluated. This process involves conducting a thorough study to determine the potential risks that could impact buildings, occupants and surrounding areas. The process is typically reviewed every five years.
There are two schools of thought in identifying hazards. There are consequence-based studies that consider the potential consequences of a threat, and riskbased studies that evaluate the likelihood of a hazardous event and then look at its potential consequences. The choice of method typically depends on the specific goals and circumstances of the project.
Once hazards are identified, solutions to protect workers from potential risks are suggested. These solutions may involve relocating non-essential personnel to non-hazardous areas, installing permanent blast-resistant structures, retrofitting existing structures to meet the threat level and deploying temporary blast-resistant buildings.
It could be a combination of all four. The most important thing is that the solution is tailored to maximize protection against the specifically identified threats rather than putting in a costly solution that protects against the highest threat level — even in places that don’t need maximum protection.
Designing for the threat level identified
Blast-resistant buildings come in all sizes, varieties and types of materials. They may be steel, concrete, modular, built onsite, permanent, temporary or a combination of these selections. Once the threat level is identified through a quantitative risk assessment or a facility siting study, you can mitigate hazards.
At RedGuard, our philosophy involves creating a solution tailored to a customer’s needs.We start with steel modular, blast-resistant buildings, which can have a protection level of up to 15 psi. We then add other protections as needed. Other companies may have a catchall approach and suggest mitigating with "multi-hazard" buildings. While a multi-hazard approach ensures protection, it may not always be the most appropriate strategy. A risk-based approach that carefully assesses the actual threats relevant to the location would lead to a more efficient, cost-effective and tailored solution.
Fortifying the future: Tailored safety for a complex world
Safety isn’t a one-size-fits-all endeavor. It’s a dynamic, multifaceted challenge that demands thoughtful consideration, adaptability and precision. While some companies lean toward bundling multiple hazards under a single "multi-hazard" umbrella, a more nuanced approach emerges when we truly delve into the complexities of safeguarding lives and assets in hazardous zones.
The wisdom to discern between necessary protection and over-engineering is what sets a truly resilient safety strategy apart. Instead of investing in the broad strokes of a one-size-fits-all, multi-hazard approach, we advocate for precision. Tailor your safety measures to the specific threats, allocating resources where they really matter. This approach ensures that blast-resistant modular buildings are robust, yet efficient. It’s about constructing fortifications that don’t compromise safety while optimizing resources.
For more information, visit redguard.com or call (855) 733-4827.
