Pressure Relief Location - a Hidden Hazard

Pressure relief devices are considered the last line of defense against overpressure scenarios; they help protecting the facility and personnel from a catastrophic event. However, incorrect routing of the relief location may potentially expose not only on-site personnel but also the surrounding residents to a toxic release event. Some facilities may route the relief path to a safe location; this location sometime is a direct release to the atmosphere off-site. The Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) study sometime do not have the information to fully evaluate the consequence of the relief event. Without conducting a consequence model of a release event from the relief devices to the atmosphere, it is difficult to evaluate the extend of the consequence to the facility, its personnel, and the community. Raising awareness of the potential hazard from the pressure relive devices can promote the safety and reliability of a facility.