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Hazard Studies & Risk Assessment

Facility Siting Studies

We assess occupied building risk and optimise siting under API 752 and 753

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What this study delivers

Facility Siting
Studies

A facility siting study assesses the risk to your people in occupied buildings from fire, explosion and toxic release events across a process industry site. Our team determines whether each building is appropriately sited and constructed, and we recommend the upgrades you need wherever occupant risk exceeds tolerable levels. We follow the API 752 and 753 methodology throughout so that the conclusions are anchored in recognised practice and defensible to your regulator and insurer.

Facility Siting Studies Overview
Study execution

How the study is executed

A structured, facilitated process that runs from scope definition through close out and produces defensible, actionable outputs.

Building Inventory & Occupancy Profiling

Compile building register with classification (permanent/portable/tent per API RP 752/753/756), structural type (brick/modular/BRM), occupancy (peak persons, occupied hours, staff vs contractor), and GPS coordinates, cross map to site layout and process unit proximity.

Explosion Source Term & Overpressure Basis

Select VCE / BLEVE scenarios from FERA / CDM study per unit, apply Multi Energy, Baker Strehlow Tang, or FLACS overpressure modelling, calculate side on overpressure, duration, and positive impulse at each building location.

Building Damage & Personnel Vulnerability

Apply ASCE Petrochemical Energy Committee fragility curves per structural type (brick, portal frame, modular) to derive damage state (minor/moderate/major/collapse), calculate personnel fatality and injury probabilities per Pietersen / Stephens probit functions.

Thermal Radiation & Toxic Infiltration Assessment

Calculate thermal dose at each building from pool fire / jet fire / fireball scenarios, assess skin burn, structural ignition, and HVAC driven toxic infiltration to AEGL 2 / SLOT, determine shelter in place viability per air change rate and exposure duration.

Building Risk Ranking & Tolerability Assessment

Calculate IRPA and PLL per building, plot against API RP 752 tolerability criteria (TRIR < 1×10⁻³ for workers), rank buildings by risk level, identify buildings above tolerable threshold requiring upgrade action.

Upgrade Options Appraisal & Action Plan

Appraise options per building, BRM (Blast Resistant Module), structural reinforcement, relocation, demolition, occupancy reduction, develop cost benefit basis, issue priority ranked action plan with timeline, risk reduction quantification, and 5 year re assessment trigger matrix.

Facility Siting Studies Scope
Study scope

What the study covers in full

We collect a building inventory and occupancy data across your site
We assess explosion overpressure using the API 752 methodology
We model fire and toxic exposure consequences for each building location
We assess structural vulnerability across brick, modular and blast resistant construction
We carry out the occupied building risk assessment under API 753
We apply your risk tolerance criteria and rank the buildings by risk
We appraise upgrade options including blast resistant modular buildings, relocation and occupancy reduction
We prioritise actions by risk level and occupant count
Why it matters

Outcomes of Facility Siting Studies

Blast and Fire Exposure Reduction
  • We protect the people in your control room, administration buildings and temporary cabins from explosion
  • We identify the buildings at unacceptable risk so they get priority action
  • We prevent fatalities from structural collapse in a blast event
  • We document the tolerable risk basis for each occupied building
API 752 and 753 and OSHA PSM Defence
  • We address the occupied building consideration in your OSHA PSM process hazard analysis
  • We follow the API 752 and 753 methodology
  • We implement the CCPS facility siting guidance
  • We meet the regulatory focus that followed Buncefield and Texas City
Occupancy and Simultaneous Operations Risk Management
  • We tell you whether your muster points and control rooms are adequately located
  • We support your siting decisions for contractors and the temporary workforce
  • We provide the basis for safe working population limits in at risk areas
  • We inform occupancy restrictions for simultaneous operations
Blast Resistant Building and Retrofit Cost Targeting
  • We help you avoid costly post incident litigation by identifying at risk buildings early
  • We help you avoid blanket replacement cost through a risk prioritised upgrade programme
  • We specify blast resistant buildings to the right standard so you do not over engineer them
  • We document due diligence for your insurance and legal purposes
Standards & references

Codes & standards we work to

API 752API 753CCPS Facility Siting GuidelinesASCE 7OSHA 1910.119ISA TR84.00.07MSIHC Rules 1989 (India)Factories Act 1948 Section 41B (India)OISD STD 118 (Layout)API RP 752 / 753 / 756NFPA 30 (Flammable and Combustible Liquids)API 2510 (LPG Layout)
When to engage

Triggers that signal the need

You are planning new construction or relocating a buildingYou are expanding the process or increasing throughputA regulatory requirement has arisen after an incidentYou have reached your periodic revalidation, which API 752 sets at every five yearsYou are conducting acquisition due diligenceAn insurance risk survey has raised a finding
Industries served

Where Facility Siting Studies applies

Oil & Gas, Upstream

Wellheads, separators, gas compression, FPSO topsides, produced water systems.

UpstreamOffshoreFPSO
Refineries & Petrochemicals

Distillation columns, reactors, heat exchangers, storage spheres, LPG handling.

RefiningPetrochemical
LNG & Gas Processing

Cryogenic exchangers, liquefaction trains, BOG compressors, storage and sendout.

LNGCryogenic
Specialty Chemicals

Reactive systems, batch reactors, solvent handling, runaway reaction scenarios.

ReactiveBatch
Power Generation

Boilers, HRSGs, steam headers, hydrogen systems, ammonia SCR units.

PowerHydrogen
Pharma & Food

Sterile vessels, CIP/SIP, pressure fermenters, solvent recovery, spray dryers.

PharmaFood & Bev
What we deliver

Tangible deliverables

  • Building inventory with occupancy and structural data
  • Consequence modelling results per building location
  • Occupied building risk assessment worksheets per API 753
  • Building risk ranking and tolerable risk comparison
  • Upgrade options appraisal with cost and benefit analysis
  • Action plan with priority ranking and timelines
  • Facility siting study report
  • Ongoing monitoring and revalidation schedule
Get Started

Ready to start your project?

Speak with our team to scope an engagement tailored to your facility, regulatory context, and lifecycle stage.

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