Category Archives: Good Engineering Practices

Yeah, but No – Compliance vs. Safety

Posted on August 27, 2019 by Brian Chapin

Often, compliance and safety go hand-in-hand. This leads us to believe they are the same thing. Occasionally they are not; and when that’s the case, it is our duty to place SAFETY above Compliance. Relief Piping Termination – A worked … Continue reading →

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IIAR 2-2014, Addendum A Third Public Review

Posted on October 5, 2018 by Brian Chapin

The IIAR has announced a 3rd Public Review of Standard BSR/IIAR 2-2014, Addendum A, Standard for Safe design of Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems. This brings some interesting changes to IIAR 2 . Two of these proposed changes are : Clearing up the … Continue reading →

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IIAR 6 Public Review #3

Posted on July 6, 2018 by Brian Chapin

Make your opinion known BEFORE the changes go final! IIAR 6 continues its development. This document will replace IIAR Bulletin 110 (among others) and will be very important. The current review only lists changes since Public Review #2. To: IIAR Members … Continue reading →

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Learning from Failure

Posted on May 17, 2018 by Brian Chapin

“Failure is only opportunity to begin again. Only this time, more wisely.” –Henry Ford We often push PSM practitioners to perform Incident Investigations for fairly minor events in the hopes that the lessons learned from those minor incidents will stop … Continue reading →

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General Duty vs. PSM/RMP: Is there a benefit to dropping below the 10,000lb threshold?

Posted on February 26, 2018 by Brian Chapin

Several times a year I get a phone call or an email from a client that wants to lower the NH3 inventory below the federal 10,000lb threshold so they are no longer subject to the PSM/RMP rules. It’s a conversation … Continue reading →

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RAGAGEP Hierarchy in Application – A worked example

Posted on October 10, 2017 by Brian Chapin

RAGAGEP (Recognized and Generally Accepted Good Engineering Practices/Principles) is extremely important to our Process Safety programs as it helps define the boundaries of what is (and isn’t) acceptable in our processes and our management of them. There seems to be … Continue reading →

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Why does my PSM program make me review the PHA during any equipment/facility MOC?

Posted on February 13, 2017 by Brian Chapin

Nearly two years ago, I changed the Management of Change Written Plan template in my PSM programs to make a few changes: Removed the “minor change” and “major change” categories. Explicitly require a Process Hazard Analysis review during all equipment/facility … Continue reading →

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2017 SOP Template Updates

Posted on January 9, 2017 by Brian Chapin

The SOP reference element guideline and RESOP/ROSOP reference  templates have been updated for 2017. The changes are basically broken into two groups: Continuous Improvement and IIAR 7. Continuous Improvement: As always, there are a lot of little change suggestions that … Continue reading →

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When does a Car-Seal program make sense for Industrial Ammonia Refrigeration systems?

Posted on September 9, 2016 by Brian Chapin

First off: What is a Car-Seal program and what does it do?  A Car-Seal program is designed, implemented and managed to ensure that safety-critical valves within the covered process are maintained in their safety-critical position / setting during normal system … Continue reading →

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Misunderstanding MOC

Posted on May 9, 2016 by Brian Chapin

Recently a valve manufacturer that I respect posted a LinkedIn advertisement for one of their new relief valves. I love new technology so I was really interested in it but noticed something they posted in the graphic: “No PSM Changes … Continue reading →

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