API presents new fire prevention, safety recommendations to US refineries

The American Petroleum Institute (API) has released a modernized standard for fire prevention and safety improvements in refineries, to be followed by training exercises in August.

The update was built on recommendations from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the National Fire Protection Association, and the U.S. Coast Guard. Hazard analysis has been updated at all levels. The update also includes ways to improve the design of refineries for greater fire prevention, focusing on drainage processes, site exits for egress, layout, and spacing of processing units and the location of offsite facilities. Additionally, new information was released on managing potential environmental effects caused by firefighting foams and marine-based firefighting.

“API RP 2001, Fire Protection in Refineries, is consistent with Chevron’s approach, which gives considerable attention to fire prevention practices and is not just about fire extinguishment. Implementation of the concepts within this document by corporate and field personnel will make their facilities safer for their workforce and neighbors as well as help protect their assets,” Tim Blackford, Team Lead of the Process Safety Engineering at Chevron Energy Technology Company, said.

With the update now in place, API will host a training webinar for it led by Blackford and ExxonMobile process safety expert Clark Shepard on Aug. 6.