Recent Blog Posts

When Does a Relief Valve’s Clock Start?

April 2nd, 2019

While it is well known that good engineering practice requires that relief valves be replaced every five years, industry literature does not clearly state when the five-year timer starts its countdown. Is it when the valve is manufactured? Taken out of the box? Installed? Exposed to ammonia? Due to the lack of clarification on this […]

Ammonia Week in Review | August 25, 2017

August 25th, 2017

Ammonia causes havoc on campus in this week’s edition of the Ammonia Week in Review…. 50 Students Hospitalised After Ammonia Gas Leak Near School – Nearly 800 students were present on the school campus when the gas leaked from the adjoining cold storage, located on Narsingpur road, a senior official said. […keep reading] 2017 RETA National Conference | […]

PSI Explained: Electrical Supply and Distribution Systems

August 22nd, 2017

CalOSHA’s PSM regulation (Title 8 CCR §5189(d)(3)(A)(9)) uniquely requires that the “information pertaining to the equipment in the process shall include: Electrical supply and distribution systems”. None of the other California or Federal process safety regulations (FedOSHA PSM, USEPA RMP, or CalARP) contain such a requirement. As such, literature describing best practices for implementation of […]

PSI Explained: Safety Systems

August 8th, 2017

Title 8 CCR §5189(d)(3)(A)(8) and Title 29 CFR §1910.119(d)(3)(i)(H) requires that “information pertaining to the equipment in the process shall include: Safety systems (e.g. interlocks, detection or suppression systems)”. At minimum, Safety Systems documentation must identify and summarize all Safety Systems associated with the chemical process. Once developed, this documentation will serve as a useful […]

PSI Explained: Material and Energy Balances

July 25th, 2017

Title 8 CCR §5189(d)(3)(A)(7) and Title 29 CFR §1910.119(d)(3)(i)(G) require that “information pertaining to the equipment in the process shall include: Material and energy balances for processes built after May 26, 1992”. The same requirement exists in the RMP and CalARP regulation except that the applicability date is June 21, 1999 (Title 40 CFR §68.65(d)(1)(vii) […]