Assessment of Damage to Structures and Equipment Resulting from Fire and Heat Events

Processes that involve flammable and explosive materials are used in various chemical, refining and process facilities. For example, the failure of a storage tank, a pressure vessel, and piping containing combustible products due to a leak, internal explosion, over-pressurization, or detonation can result in blast damage as well as fire and heat damage to other equipment nearby. The facility must then determine the extent of the damage, whether the equipment is still usable (fitness for service, FFS), requires costly repairs, or should even be replaced. The refining and process industry standard API 579-1/ASME FFS-1 was developed in conjunction with the American Petroleum Institute and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers for fitness for service assessments. One aspect of FFS assessments is fire and heat damage assessment as described in Part 11 (eleven) of API 579. The temperature can be mapped as heat and fire damage zones based on heat damage indicators.

The damage to other equipment can be extensive and investigating the cause of the failure and the consequences can be complex. Assessment of the damage caused by fire, and heat exposure is part of determining both what went wrong and the extent of the impact on the facility’s equipment. Analyzing heat damage indicators can assist the investigator in assessing the extent of heat damage and possibly the point of origin. This talk will be a quick overview of using API 579 part 11 as part of accident investigation.