IRP 18:
Fire and Explosion
Hazard Management
IRP 18 Development Committee
DRAFT June 10, 2006
IRP 18 Rationale
• A “one size fits all” solution does not exist.
• Site-specific strategies are needed.
• Improved training and awareness are required.
• Today’s science cannot conclusively predict what is safe
and what is unsafe.
Key Definitions
• Fire Triangle:
Theorem from fire fighting that states that for fires and
explosions to propagate, they must have access to a
fuel, an oxygen source, and sufficient energy.
• FEHM: Fire and Explosion Hazard Management
Actions, procedures, and policies used by organizations
and individuals to prevent the occurrence of and/or
limit the exposure to unplanned fires and explosions.
How Does IRP 18
Serve Industry?
• Provides a framework for the implementation of FEHM
plans and procedures required to satisfy EUB Directive 033.
• Provides discussion of the Fire Triangle & Critical Risk
Factors to improve office and field hazard assessments.
• Outlines the roles and responsibilities for workers and
organizations in managing F&E hazards.
• Stipulates training guidelines to help protect all Industry
workers from F&E hazards.
What Does IRP 18
Require of Industry?
Manage
Fire & Explosion
Risks
Assess
Fire & Explosion
Hazards
Prepare
Written Fire &
Explosion Plans
•Assign responsibilities •ID hazardous
•Select controls.
to individuals and
operations in design •ID factors that impact
corporations.
phase; develop written control decisions.
plans as needed.
•Provide Training
•Prepare a written
•Conduct ‘field’
•Develop plan,
fire & explosion
assessment using fire
identify scope and
prevention plan.
triangle and critical
regulations.
•Review and confirm
risk factors.
•Evaluate risk and
plan w/ Operations.
develop appropriate •Complete formal risk
assessment if needed.
FEHM process.
Implement
Fire & Explosion
Prevention Plans
•Communicate plan.
•Implement plan;
apply training.
•Monitor controls.
•Recognize and
respond to change.
•Report and investigate
close calls and
incidents.
Expanded Fire Triangle
Energy & Ignition
Oxygen & Air
•Heat, electricity, static,
friction, chemical reactions,
spontaneous combustion,
dieseling, pyrophors,
sudden decompression,
catalytic reactions
•Planned introduction of air,
inadvertent introduction of oxygen,
release of hydrocarbons into air,
weathered fluids, oxidizers
Fuels & Hydrocarbons
•Heavy and light gases, hydrocarbon liquids
and vapours, chemicals / lubricants/solvents,
frac oils, flammable materials
8 Critical Risk
Factors
• Liquid hydrocarbons, flammable liquids,
lower the energy required for ignition.
• H2S lowers the LEL and creates pyrophoric iron sulphides.
• Oil-based workover fluids can absorb oxygen.
• Mixing chemicals can have unforeseen impacts.
• High pressures and temperatures can cause auto-ignition.
• Rapid pressure or temperature changes can trigger explosive events.
• Flowing explosive mixtures into closed systems brings the ingredients together
and allows pressure to rise quickly.
• Pre-existing trapped air can complicate safe operations.
Controls
• Fuel controls: purging, proper
containment, and alternative fluid selection.
• Oxygen controls: isolation equipment, warning
systems, proper storage of chemicals, knowledge of LEL
• Energy controls: reduction of voltage, pressure,
temperature, agitation; use of water mists
• It is more difficult to control energy sources than it is to
control fuel/oxygen sources.
Risk Assessment
• Confident that all potential air OR fuel sources eliminated.
Operations are well understood.
Staff are trained per IRP 18 and are experienced.
Significant history of safe operations exists under nearly
identical circumstances.
Improbable
• Fire triangle may exist;
confident that critical risk factors don’t.
Operations are well understood.
Staff are trained and experienced.
Possible
• Fire triangle may exist.
One or more risk factors may be present.
Well conditions/operations not well understood.
New or poorly understood operations/technologies.
History of incidents under similar circumstances.
Probable
Procedures Required
• Incorporation of FEHM content in current safety procedures,
including pre-job safety meetings and hazard assessments.
Improbable
Work-site and equipment inspections.
Worker qualification reviews.
Alertness for barriers/controls failure.
Possible
• Those above, plus:
Reusable FEHM-specific hazard assessments.
Alertness for changing conditions/ingredients.
MSDS/TDG document review.
Safe work permits.
• Those above, plus:
Detailed, site-specific FEHM plans prepared prior to operations.
Probable
Documented risk assessment completed.
Documentation available to all at the work-site.
F&E Prevention Plans
• Focus on operations that require special attention:
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Oxygen sources are purposely added to a system, particularly where
high pressure or flammable fluids/hydrocarbon liquids are present.
Oxygen could inadvertently enter a closed system.
Ignition sources are introduced into hazardous areas.
• Plans must:
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Describe the work to be conducted.
List fuel, oxygen, and energy sources that may be in the system.
List required controls based on the components identified.
Confirm that workers are trained on relevant hazards, site-specific prevention
plans, and emergency procedures.
FEHM Process Stages
What can go wrong?
•Fuel source
•Oxygen source
•Ignition source
Stage 1:
Assess
F&E
Hazards
Stage 2:
ID Need for
Site-Specific
Prev. Plan
What are you doing?
•Incident experience
•Planned Operations
•Equipment
Preventive Controls
•Equipment design and
barriers, training,
plans/procedures
Stage 3:
Evaluate &
Choose
Controls
Stage 4:
Develop &
Implement
Prev. Plan
Protective Controls
•Alarms & detection,
emergency equipment/
procedures
Stage 5:
Monitor
Effectiveness
& Revise
Corporate Roles
• Raise awareness of this IRP.
• Train personnel in FEHM to IRP 18 requirements.
• Establish and implement a FEHM process.
• Assess competency and ensure compliance.
• Support those who ID unsafe work.
Supervisor Roles
• Complete Fire & Explosion Training;
ensure co-workers have done the same.
• Implement Hazard ID and controls.
• Challenge those not working safely.
• Encourage reporting of unsafe work.
Worker Roles
• Complete Fire & Explosion Training.
• Carry out Fire & Explosion Prevention Plans,
Procedures, and Controls.
• Report Fire & Explosion Hazards.
• Assist inexperienced co-workers.
• Challenge those not working safely.
• Report unsafe work.
Training
Requirements
• Basic-level training: (workers)
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Expanded Fire Triangle and Critical Risk Factors
Controls
Communications
• Advanced: (designers, supervisors and management)
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Additional detail on fuels, oxygen sources, energy sources
F&E Prevention Plan Development
Management of Change
• Corporations may train staff internally, via ENFORM,
or with the assistance of knowledgeable third-parties
IRP 18:
Fire and Explosion
Hazard Management
IRP 18 Development Committee
June 7, 2006