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Improved fire and explosion index hazard classification
Author(s) -
Scheffler Norman E.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
process safety progress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.378
H-Index - 40
eISSN - 1547-5913
pISSN - 1066-8527
DOI - 10.1002/prs.680130407
Subject(s) - hazard , index (typography) , readability , table (database) , process (computing) , computer science , engineering , forensic engineering , statistics , data mining , mathematics , chemistry , programming language , organic chemistry
The Fire and Explosion Index (F&EI) is one of the most widely used hazard indices for chemical process plants. It was developed by The Dow Chemical Company in 1964 and has been improved, enhanced and simplified through the publishing of six editions. This paper describes the latest 7th edition and the improvements it contains. The F&EI is to serve as a guide for evaluating the hazard potential for separate major units of chemical process plants, is to aid in determining the consequences of a fire or an explosion and is to help determine appropriate loss prevention features to be used. Efforts have been made to make the task of completing the F&EI form easier and the results more consistent based on the most current and accurate material property data. Some of the major features of the revised F&EI are: Improvement of readability and corrections to previous edition. Addition of F&EI versus Degree of Hazard table. Major upgrading of data table which gives key chemical properties and materials factors. Revised, streamlined F&EI forms available in computer spreadsheet form. Improvement in data plots with equations developed for ease of calculations. Adjustments and updating of credit factors and check lists.The main purpose for creating the 7th edition is to update information, procedures and data to make the F&EI and auxiliary calculations more accurate and easier to perform. There are no fundamental changes in the methodology. Use of the new Fire & Explosion Index Hazard Classification Guide should lead to better determination of this important hazard index which is a valuable tool for analyzing risks for chemical process plants and selection of appropriate measures. The revised F&EI guideline will be made available as an AIChE publication as it has been since 1966.