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lisar  
#1 Posted : 02 June 2015 16:22:39(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
lisar

We are located near some power lines. We are considering building an external flammables store and wondered if the power lines overhead would cause any issues with this and if there was a specified distance you had to have between the stores and the overhead cables
A Kurdziel  
#2 Posted : 02 June 2015 16:27:55(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
A Kurdziel

Talk to the power company involved (national grid?) they will tell what the risks might be. Things to mention are: 1.How close to the power lines will your building be? 2.What’s the building made of? 3.Will it be earthed? 4.What are storing in there and how much?
Ian Bell  
#3 Posted : 02 June 2015 16:28:43(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Ian Bell

How close? From a process safety point of view, it would be normal to undertake a HAZID exercise and identify credible accident scenarios? What are you storing in your flammable store? As part of the analysis you should then consider the dispersion distance to below 1/2LFL, so that the power lines don't end up being a source of ignition inside a theoretical hazardous area cloud of flammable vapour. It is normal to model D5 and F2 weather conditions.
Ian Bell  
#4 Posted : 02 June 2015 16:32:48(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Ian Bell

A Kurdziel wrote:
Talk to the power company involved (national grid?) they will tell what the risks might be. Things to mention are: 1.How close to the power lines will your building be? 2.What’s the building made of?
I think a little careful check of the original post 'building an external' Rather the word should be 'constructing and external' To me the original post implies this is an external flammable storage area NOT a building for storing flammable liquids inside? Lisar can you clarify?
A Kurdziel  
#5 Posted : 02 June 2015 16:36:59(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
A Kurdziel

Ian You imagined an external compound and I imagined little shed with roof on. Easy it is to make assumptions if you don’t know all of the facts!
lisar  
#6 Posted : 02 June 2015 16:40:42(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
lisar

Hi, It would be a purpose built construction that is enclosed and would have fire resistant walls and LEV for the storage of 5 litre extremely flammable liquids, not sure on the amount at this moment as not sure if they want to be a COMAH site Well in my head it would be designed like this
A Kurdziel  
#7 Posted : 02 June 2015 16:49:52(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
A Kurdziel

If you intend to look at COMAH levels of flammable liquids then my main concern would not be the risk of the power lines setting off a fire/explosion but rather the risk of a fire/explosion damaging the power lines! The power company might be in a legal position to object to the siting of something like this near their power lines. You will need to check this out.
Ian Bell  
#8 Posted : 02 June 2015 16:55:27(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Ian Bell

Whats going on inside the building - just storage? Any opening of containers? If no opening of containers/mixing of material - this will be a Zone 2 area, with the necessary requirement for ATEX rated electrical equipment. If you open containers/mix materials you will then have Zone 1 areas and some Zone 0 inside the open containers. Given this is a true building, as clarified - then the hazardous area will remain in the building. Assuming LEV vents are positioned correctly I would doubt if a hazardous area would extend as far as the power lines- given the containers are 5litres in size Random leaks are unlikely to be more than one container at a time. Other accidents causing multiple containers to leak could be impact from forktrucks, I assume when moving palletised stock? Dropping of containers/pallets from racking? If I recall correctly read HSG51 and HSG140
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