Title of Paper Interpretation of IP15 in Process Plant Design: a Commonsense

Approach
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Author 1 AJ Tuckett
Company Foster Wheeler Energy Limited
Address Foley House
5 Seaward Place
Glasgow
Scotland
G41 1HH
e-mail andy_tuckett@fwuk.fwc.com

Author Background

Andy is Chief Process Engineer for Foster Wheeler Energy Limited Glasgow Operations. He
has a BSc (Hons) in Chemical Engineering from Loughborough University. He has over 20
years’ experience in process design and engineering of oil and gas projects.

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Author 2 I R Calcott
Company Foster Wheeler Energy Limited
Address Foley House
5 Seaward Place
Glasgow
Scotland
G41 1HH
e-mail iain_calcott@fwuk.fwc.com

Author Background

Iain is a Principal Process Engineer for Foster Wheeler Energy Limited Glasgow Operations.
He holds a BSc (Hons) in Chemical Engineering from Heriot Watt University and has worked
for over 17 years in process design and plant operation.

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INTRODUCTION

Hazardous area classification of process plants is often undertaken using as a basis the
Institute of Petroleum Model Code of Safe Practice Part 15 ‘Area Classification Code for
Installations Handling Flammable Fluids. This code was re-issued as a second edition in
August 2002 to take a more risk-based approach to area classification. As a consequence
of this there are now additional considerations which must be taken into account when
determining the hazardous radius. This paper summarises how Foster Wheeler has
interpreted and applied the revised code on a number of recent projects for the oil and gas
industry.

The main differences between the second edition of the IP15 code and the first issue can be
summarised thus:

• The second edition is based on an assessment of the risk to operators who work within
hazardous areas. In addition it provides an updated, demonstrable methodology for
specifying hazardous radius. This is achieved by assigning a level of release for
secondary sources, and takes account of the period of time an operator spends exposed
to a potential release source, and the probability of ignition of that release.

• The new IP code is based on dispersion modelling taking into account variables such as
pressure and mist/spray formation. As the radius is now based on dispersion modelling
of specific release compositions there is no longer a distinction between heavier than air
or lighter than air releases.

• Chapter 5 ‘Classification of Individual Point Sources’ details the methodology for

classification of the radius associated with equipment and piping. The difference now is
that the release/leak source is now quantified, for example a flange leak is likely to have
a diameter of 1 to 6 mm. In addition the diameter of the leak source is related to the
level of release, with respect to secondary (Zone 2) releases. As before, the hazardous
area is expected to be mainly Zone 2 with localised Zone 1s.

METHODOLOGY FOR HAZARDOUS AREA CLASSIFICATION

There are a number of discrete steps that need to be completed in order to arrive at the
hazardous area classification for a process plant. These form the basis of the work
procedures employed by Foster Wheeler:

• Identify the point sources of release

• Determine the grade of release and fluid category

• Establish zone classification

• Determine hazard radius

• Preparation of hazardous area drawing

• Hazardous area classification review

The procedure adopted is represented in a flowchart in Figure 1, each of the above steps
are then discussed in more detail below.

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Input Activity Output

P&IDs
Identify
Plot Plans
Release
Heat & Material Balance

Determine Amend Design to

Grade of remove continuous;
Release Primary sources

Determine
Physical Properties
Fluid
Heat & Material Balance
Category

Establish
Ventilation Zone
Classification

Level of
Release Probability
Client’s Operations Staff Input
Pocc

Number of
IP15
Releases
Plot Plan
Nrange

IP15 Exposure

Probability
IP15 of Ignition
Pign

IP15/ Hazardous
Air Dispersion Radius

Hazardous Area
Classification
Drawings

Review
Revise

Agreed
Hazardous Area
Classification

Figure 1

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IDENTIFICATION OF SOURCES OF RELEASE

The starting point for any area classification is to determine all the potential sources of
release. To do this, it is important that the process design of the facility is well-developed,
and that a plant layout is available in at least a conceptual form. Typically, the following key
documents are used when determining the sources of release:

• Equipment list
• Piping and instrument diagrams
• Heat and material balance
• Plot plan

In addition, it is important for the process engineer to consider other potential sources of
release which may not be shown on the above documents. Examples of these include oily
water drain system, drain hubs and vent pipes, vents from balanced bellows relief valves,
analyser vents, etc.

It is important that all continuous, primary sources and secondary sources which are likely to
have an impact on the extent of a Zone 2 outside the plant boundary are identified at an
early stage. Small secondary releases within the process plant are less important, as they
are unlikely to have an impact on the extent of hazardous zones.

DETERMINE THE GRADE OF RELEASE AND FLUID CATEGORY

The grade of a source is dependant on the likely frequency of release. The grades are
defined in IP15 as, continuous, primary or secondary.

Continuous release is considered, as a rule of thumb, for instances where it is likely to be

present for a period in excess of 1,000 hours per year, primary releases for between 10 and
1,000 hours per year, and secondary for less than 10 hours.

In addition to the above, where releases are present for less than 10 hours but occur on a
frequent basis during normal operation, such as regular sampling, they should be considered
as primary grades.

During design, effort must be made to minimise the number of primary releases as far as is
practicable. This can include such measures as installation of closed sampling systems,
closed drain systems, and reducing the diameter of vents and drains.

The fluid category is defined in IP15 as follows:

Fluid Category Description

A A flammable liquid that on release, would vaporise rapidly and substantially. This
category includes:
a) Any liquefied petroleum gas or lighter flammable liquid
b) Any flammable liquid at a temperature sufficient to produce on release more
than about 40% vol vaporisation with no heat input other than from the
surroundings
B A flammable liquid not in Category A, but at a temperature sufficient for boiling to
occur on release
C A flammable liquid not in categories A or B, but which can, on release, be at a
temperature above its flash point, or form a flammable mist or spray
G (i) A typical methane-rich natural gas
G (i) Refinery hydrogen
Unclassified Heavy oils etc with flash point greater than 100oC handled at a temperature below
flash point, which will not form a mist or spray on release

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ESTABLISH ZONE CLASSIFICATION

For an open, freely-ventilated area, the following Zones apply (depending on the grade of
release):

• Continuous: Zone 0

• Primary: Zone 1

• Secondary: Zone 2

For enclosed areas, such as an analyser house, compressor shelter, and sumps, reference
has to be made to IP15 to determine whether the applicable zone has to be increased to
take account of inadequate ventilation.

DETERMINE HAZARD RADIUS

The method used to determine a hazardous radius is dependant on the grade of release.

For primary and continuous releases, where the potential leaks sizes and fluid categories
are within the limits of the tables within IP15 section 5 and Annex 6, the hazardous radius
can be determined directly from these tables. For cases outside the limits, it is necessary to
undertake dispersion modelling to determine the extent of a flammable cloud. In cases
where this has been found to be necessary, Foster Wheeler typically use PHAST (Process
Hazard Analysis Software Tool) from DNV Software.

For a secondary grade release it is first necessary to determine the level of release, and
then to determine the hazardous radius either directly from IP15 or from dispersion
modelling. The procedure used for determining level of release is described below.

LEVEL OF RELEASE

The level of release takes account of the period of time that personnel are exposed to a risk,
determined from the number of sources of release to which they are likely to be exposed,
and the likelihood of ignition.

The level of release is either level I, level II or level III and is described as the release
frequency. The release frequency is based on personnel risk only.

It is the general intent that the level be assigned to an installation rather than determine the
level for each individual point source. This can prove to be quite difficult when the boundary
of an installation may have varying risks of ignition.

The first step in determining the level of release is to establish exposure of personnel.

In the IP Code exposure is determined from:

Exp= Pocc X Nrange

Where

Pocc is the probability of an individual being on site within the hazardous area.

Nrange is the time weighted average number of release sources which can affect the individual
during their time within the hazardous area

IP15 provides four values for Pocc:

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• 0.22: Individual spends 100% of all shifts exposed to a hazardous release
• 0.13: Individual spends an average of 5 hours per shift exposed to a hazardous release
• 0.055: Individual spends an average of 2 hours per shift exposed to a hazardous release
• 0.028: Individual spends an average of 1 hours per shift exposed to a hazardous release

The likely exposure of personnel needs to be discussed with the plant’s operating team, but
in practice Foster Wheeler has found that in modern automated plants the exposure of
personnel tends to be between 2 and 5 hours, giving rise to a Pocc of between 0.13 and
0.055. It is essential that the assumptions made in determining the probability of exposure
are well documented and recorded in order to provide an audit trail for later review and to
meet HSE requirements.

The next step is to determine Nrange. The tables in IP15 give the average number of sources
to which an individual will be exposed during his period within the hazardous area,
depending on the activity which he is undertaking.

Three levels are indicated: low, medium and high.

The percentage of time an individual is then exposed to each of these levels then needs to
be assessed. It is important that these values are discussed with the client’s operating
personnel. The basis for all decisions taken must also be recorded for record and audit
purposes.

Typical values of time an individual is exposed, used on previous projects are:

• Low: 20%
• Medium: 50%
• High: 30%

It is now possible to determine the exposure from table C2 (in ID15).

Depending on the assumptions made we would typically expect to arrive at an exposure of

between 1.5 and 2.0.

Before determining the level of release it is now necessary to determine the probability of
ignition. In table C3 of IP15 the following four strengths of ignition are given:

• Controlled, probability of ignition, 0.003

• Weak, probability of ignition, 0.01
• Medium, probability of ignition, 0.1
• Strong, probability of ignition, 1

By taking account of the proportion of time the most exposed individual will spend exposed
to each of the strengths of ignition, a value for Pign can be determined.

Using the values of exposure and Pign, the appropriate level of release is determined from
Figure C2 (in ID15). Referring to Figure C2, Foster Wheeler has found that in most
instances, level I is applicable for process plant, but with certain areas close to strong
sources of release exposed to level 2, in practice level 3 has not been encountered.

The calculation of release frequency level is required to be made as a minimum for each
type of plant area e.g. process area, utility area, offsite area. These calculations are carried
out by the process department with input from client (operations/maintenance), and
engineering disciplines as necessary.

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The output of these calculations should be to provide a release frequency level for all areas
of the plant which is subsequently used to establish hazardous radius for releases as per IP
Code section 5.4.

HAZARDOUS RADIUS

For each source of release the hazardous radius can be determined using Chapter 5 and
Annex C3 of IP15.

The leakage rates of hydrocarbon, and hence the extent of hazardous radius, is dependent
on the hole size through which the leak occurs combined with the operating pressure.

Guidance is given in IP15 on the size of holes likely to occur for certain credible scenarios.

If necessary, air dispersion modelling can be undertaken to determine the extent of

hazardous zones.

Foster Wheeler process group represents the above information in tabular form on a
hazardous release schedule.

HAZARDOUS AREA DRAWING

The above information can be represented on a hazardous area classification drawing. This
drawing is based on the plot plan for the process unit with the hazardous zones overlaid.
Drawings are produced in both plan and elevation to give a full three dimensional
representation of the hazardous area.

HAZARDOUS AREA REVIEW

Once the preliminary hazardous area classification drawing has been prepared a formal
review is undertaken to confirm that the proposed area classification is in accordance with
project requirements, and is endorsed by the various engineering departments and
importantly the client/operations representative.

The review team should typically be composed of the following personnel;

• Process engineer
• Project engineer
• Electrical engineer
• Instrument engineer
• Design safety engineer
• Client representatives, (including operations and maintenance personnel)

The review will typically be chaired by the Project Engineer and follows a check list to ensure
that the area classification drawing has correctly interpreted the information contained in the
hazardous release schedule and to gain buy in and agreement on the various assumptions
made during the hazardous area classification process, particularly with regard to operator
occupancy and ignition sources.

All actions arising from the review must be recorded and should be entered into a project
design safety action tracking register to ensure an auditable trail to close out exists.

Following the review meeting the hazardous area drawing will normally require to be
updated to incorporate the actions of the review team before being released for engineering
design use.

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The approach employed by Foster Wheeler, as detailed above, results in the hazardous
area classification of a process plant that follows the recommendations of IP15 and,
importantly, can also be audited. By ensuring that the client is involved throughout the
process and particularly during acceptance and agreement, it ensures that the design
process is understood and accepted by the operator.

Opportunities exist to modify the design of a process plant, to remove or downgrade

hazardous releases to reduce the zone classification or the extent of a hazardous radius. By
undertaking the hazardous area classification in a structured manner, these opportunities
can be identified more easily and resolved.

The formal hazardous area classification review is an important part of the process as it
brings together a range of disciplines, and helps to ensure that the classification is agreed
and accepted by all parties concerned, and that it meets project requirements.

REFERENCES

Institute of Petroleum, Area Classification Code for Installations Handling Flammable Fluids,
Part 15, 2nd Edition August 2002.

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