Recent Blog Posts

PSI Explained: Relief System Design and Design Basis

June 24th, 2025

This is an update to a blog that was originally posted on 6/13/17. You can read the original blog here. Relief System Design and Design Basis is one of the most commonly inspected components of Process Safety Information (Title 8 CCR §5189(d)(3)(A)(4) and Title 29 CFR §1910.119(d)(3)(i)(D)). This documentation, when prepared correctly, will describe the […]

Ammonia Release | Nurse Tank Weld Failure

June 10th, 2025

Summary In August 2023, the catastrophic failure of a nurse tank containing anhydrous ammonia resulted in the release of all the ammonia contained within the tank.  Incident Description The nurse tank was sitting stationary in a farm co-op lot when the tank failure suddenly occurred. According to the report, “The failure caused the tank shell […]

Relief Valve Piping System Design Scenario

May 13th, 2025

This is an update to a blog that was originally posted on 1/24/17. You can read the original blog here. One often overlooked aspect of a relief valve discharge termination piping system is the scenario that was used as the basis of the piping design. Most designers understand that termination piping must be sized so […]

Ammonia Release | Stress Cracking

April 29th, 2025

Summary In August 2016, the sudden breaking of a valve on an ammonia pump resulted in a release of 34-284 lbs of ammonia. The root cause was determined to be a stress crack that formed at the threads of a valve, ultimately leading to the top of the valve shearing off.  Incident Description The ammonia […]

Relief Valve Replacement (Dual Assembly)

April 15th, 2025

This is an update to a blog that was originally posted on 3/10/15. You can read the original blog here. Question: Do both relief valves on a dual assembly have to be replaced every five (5) years, or just the relief valve that has been subject to system pressure? Answer: Most pressure vessels in an […]