Technical Committee on Gas Process Safety

Transcription

1 Technical Committee on Gas Process Safety MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: Technical Committee on Gas Process Safety Denise Beach, Senior Engineer/Staff Liaison DATE: April 7, 2011 RE: NFPA GPS-AAA Meeting Minutes Enclosed are the minutes from the April 5-7, 2011 meeting held in Quincy, MA. Please feel free to bring any substantive incorrect items to my attention. The next meeting of the committee will be held May 10-12, 2011 at NFPA Headquarters in Quincy, MA. A separate meeting notice and reply form will be distributed shortly. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at (617) or via at dbeach@nfpa.org.

2 MINUTES OF MEETING Technical Committee on Gas Process Safety April 5-7, 2011 NFPA Headquarters 1 Batterymarch Park Quincy, MA I. Attendance: Principal Members/Staff: Glenn Mahnken, FM Global, MA Denise Beach, NFPA, MA Guy Colonna, NFPA, MA Bernhard Bischoff, UTC/Chemetron Fire Systems, IL Leon Bowdoin, Hess LNG/Weaver s Cove Energy, MA (4/5 only) Christopher Buehler, Exponent, Inc., Paul Cabot, American Gas Association, DC Dan Dorran, Atlas Copco Rental Sean George, Steamfitters LU 449-Pittsburgh, PA Kreg Levengood, Black & Veatch Corporation, MO Daniel Michael, Nucor Steel, Robert Naper, Energy Experts International, MA John Puskar, CEC Combustion Safety Inc., Alan Rice, Chartis Insurance, CT Bruce Swiecicki, National Propane Gas Association, IL Peter Willse, XL Global Asset Protection Services, CT Robert Zalosh, Firexplo, MA Alternate Members and Guests : Don Bairley, Alstom Power Ben Bare, OSHA Maureen Brodoff, NFPA (4/5 only) Amy Cronin, NFPA (4/5 only) Russell Deubler, HSB-PLC (4/5 only) Linda Fuller, NFPA (4/5 only) Mark Griffon, Chemical Safety Board (4/5 only) John Higginbotham, ALCOA, Inc. Ken Mastrullo, OSHA (4/5 only) Christina Morgan, Chemical Safety Board (4/5 only) Bruce Mullen, NFPA (4/5 only) Andrea Lanier Papageorge, AGL Resources Hank Simpson, Stantec Consultants Franklin Switzer, S-Afe, Inc.

3 II. Minutes of Meeting: 1. Call to order. The meeting was called to order at 1:00 p.m. on April 5, Chairman Glenn Mahnken welcomed the TC members to the meeting. 2. Self-Introductions. The Technical Committee (TC) members and guests introduced themselves and identified their affiliation. 3. Staff Liaison Report. Bruce Mullen, NFPA Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President welcomed the committee members and guests to the inaugural meeting of the Gas Process Safety Technical Committee. Mr. Mullen expressed gratitude on behalf of NFPA for the participation of all involved. Ms. Beach reported on the membership appointments and reviewed NFPA policies and procedures (Attachment A). 4. U.S. Chemical Safety Board Opening Remarks. Mark Griffon, board member of the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, made a presentation to the committee expressing the support of the CSB for the efforts of the committee (Attachment B). 5. Review Committee and Document Scope. A. Committee Scope. The committee reviewed the scope as commissioned by the NFPA Standards Council and VOTED to request the following modifications: GPS-AAA Scope: This committee shall have primary responsibility for documents on the commissioning and maintenance of fuel flammable gas piping systems having normal operating pressures of greater than 2 psig used in commercial, industrial, and power plant applications, extending from the point of delivery to the equipment isolation or shutoff valve except for those already covered by the NFPA National Fuel Gas Technical Committee and/or the NFPA Hydrogen Technologies Technical Committee. B. Document Scope. The committee reviewed the document scope for consistency with the revised committee scope. Modifications are shown in the updated draft document (Attachment C). 6. Review Draft Standard NFPA 56(PS). The committee reviewed the draft document section-by-section. Modifications are shown in Attachment C. Mr. Zalosh suggested that the draft standard should also be sent to the NFPA Industrial and Medical Gases Committee for review. 7. Document Timelines/set up Task Groups/next steps. 1. Purge procedures. The committee did not reach a resolution on purge procedures, specifically allowing fuel gas into lines that contain air and purging flammable gas lines that have been vented down to atmospheric pressure with air. A task group was established to work on this issue prior to the next meeting. Task group members are (in alphabetical order): L. Danner, K. Levengood, J. Puskar, A. Rice, H. Simpson, F. Switzer and an AGA representative to be named later.

4 2. Process Hazard Analysis Example. The committee agreed to develop a sample process hazard analysis for inclusion in an annex, either for the provisional standard or a future edition of the ANS. NFPA Staff will request volunteers for this task group. 8. Old Business. There was no old business to address. 9. Next Meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for May 10-12, 2011 at NFPA Headquarters in Quincy, MA. The meeting will commence at 9 a.m. on May 10 and adjourn by noon on May 12. Further details will be sent as they become available. 10. Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 12:00 p.m. on April 7, 2011.

5 Attachment A: NFPA Staff Report

6 4/7/2011 Gas Process Safety Welcome to the GPS-AAA Meeting April 5-7, 2011 Quincy, MA Gas Process Safety At this and all NFPA committee meetings we are concerned with your safety. If the fire alarm sounds, please proceed to an exit. NFPA Headquarters is a smoke-free environment. Gas Process Safety OVERVIEW NFPA Policies ANSI Annex B Policy and Process Processing NFPA 56(PS) Committee Actions Balloting NFPA Policy Use of tape recorders or other means capable of reproducing verbatim transcriptions of this or any NFPA meeting is not permitted 1

7 4/7/2011 NFPA Policy A member categorized in ANY interest category who has been retained to represent the interests of ANOTHER interest category (with respect to a specific issue or issues that are to be addressed by a TC/TCC) shall declare those interests to the committee and refrain from voting on any proposal, comment, or other matter relating to those issues. NFPA Policy Guests All guests are required to sign in and identify their affiliations. Participation limited to those individuals who have previously requested of the chair time to address the committee on a particular subject or individuals who wish to speak to public proposals they have submitted. Guest chairs are located around the room as a courtesy. NFPA Policy Antitrust: the single most important provision- Federal law prohibits contracts, combinations, or conspiracies which unreasonably restrain trade or commerce. Section 1 of the Sherman Act Patent: Disclosures of essential patent claims should be made by the patent holder, but others may also notify NFPA if they believe that a proposed or existing NFPA standard includes an essential patent claim. See Handout Anti-Trust Policy Activities Disapproved by the Courts Packing meetings Hiding commercial interest throwing the committees out of balance No decision-making authority to unbalanced Task Groups; include all interested parties. Hiding scientific or technical information from committees 2

8 4/7/2011 ANSI Annex B Development of Provisional ANS Conditions for using Annex B: Improvement to the safeguarding of life Well established need for prompt dissemination of information Use of accredited procedures causes undue delay in issuance ASD supports initiation of full revision within 45 days of issuance of provisional ANS Standards Council Final Decision #11 3(SC# ) ANSI Annex B Public Notice published in ANSI Standards Action 3/25/2011 Consensus Body Ballot Period 3 weeks + 1 week recirculation of negatives Approval 2/3 of ballots received, excluding abstentions Withdrawal provisional standard exists for not more than 2 years NFPA 56 (PS) Processing This meeting: Scope discussions Go through draft section by section Identify issues needing resolution Following this meeting, committee draft will be distributed to all affected NFPA committees for further comment. National Fuel Gas Code, LP Gas Code, LP Gas at Utility Gas Plants, Electric Generating Plants, Internal Combustion Engines, Boilers, Ovens & Furnaces NFPA 56 (PS) Processing Next Meeting(s) Resolve outstanding issues Review new comments Finalize standard Finalize standard Submit for ballot Following ballot of this TC, the document goes to NFPA Standards Council for issuance August 9 11, 2011 or October 17 18,

9 4/7/2011 Voting Gas Process Safety Voting during meeting is used to establish a sense of agreement (simple majority) Votes t will be taken only when consensus is not clear or as requested by a committee member Letter ballot will be issued only on the complete document, not specific proposals Gas Process Safety General Procedures Motions: Follow Robert s Rules of Order. Discussion requires a motion. Gas Process Safety Previous Question Motion, a.k.a. Call the Question Not in order when another has the floor Requires a second This motion is not debatable and DOES NOT automatically stop debate A 2/3 affirmative vote will immediately close debate and return to the original motion on the floor. Less then 2/3 will allow debate to continue. Gas Process Safety Committee member actions: Member addresses the chair. Receives recognition from the chair. Introduces the motion. Another member seconds the motion. 4

10 4/7/2011 Gas Process Safety Committee chair actions: States the motion. Calls for discussion. Ensures all issues have been heard. Takes the vote. Announces the result of the vote. Gas Process Safety For this meeting: Bob s Guidelines Discuss one issue at a time One discussion at a time Changes to draft based on consensus No specific actions are required on proposals However, staff will draft informal response to submitter with your help Gas Process Safety Ballot will be on the draft as a whole Ballot form provides a column for affirmative with comment Note: This box only needs to be checked if there is an accompanying comment. Reject or abstain requires a reason. Gas Process Safety Balloting Ballots may be returned by mail, fax, or . Please do not submit in multiple formats. PDF ballot Alternates are required to return ballots 5

11 4/7/2011 Gas Process Safety Gas Process Safety Initial ballot Circulation of negatives and comments Members may change votes on circulation Thank you for participating! Any questions? 6

12 Attachment B: CSB Board Member M. Griffon Opening Remarks

13 Statement of Mark Griffon, Board Member, US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board NFPA 56 Gas Process Safety Meeting April 5, 2011 Good afternoon. On behalf of the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, thank you for the opportunity to address the NFPA 56 Committee today, the date of your inaugural meeting. The NFPA s decision to develop this comprehensive gas safety standard in response to your own mandate and prompted by the CSB s recommendations was welcomed by our Board. As you are doubtless all aware, the CSB has investigated two accidents which resulted from work activities where large quantities of flammable gas were released in the presence of workers and ignition sources. The first accident occurred during a supply line purging operation and the second occurred during a flammable gas blow. While my primary emphasis today will be on the gas blow incident at Kleen Energy, I do want to briefly comment on the earlier accident which occurred during a purging operation. The first incident, at the ConAgra SlimJim facility in Garner, North Carolina, occurred on June 9, A contractor was purging air from a natural gas supply line as part of the installation of a new industrial water heater. The purged gases were released indoors, and no gas monitors were used to monitor the concentration of natural gas. The gas eventually reached its lower explosive limit (LEL), ignited, and violently exploded. That tragic and preventable accident cost four lives, injured 67 others, and reportedly was an important factor leading to the decision to close the plant, with the loss of hundreds of jobs in the region. As a result of this incident, the CSB issued urgent recommendations to both the International Code Council and the National Fire Protection Association calling for requirements for safely venting purged gases outdoors and away from personnel and ignition sources, using gas monitoring technology to monitor gas concentrations, and evacuating nonessential personnel from the area. We have since applauded the August 2010 actions of the NFPA 54/National Fuel Gas Code Committee to promulgate a Tentative Interim Amendment (TIA) 1 addressing these issues, and we hope that the Committee will make these new requirements permanent during the Code s next revision cycle. I think I can speak for the Board when I say that we are pleased that, as we understand it, the initial draft of the new NFPA 56 standard incorporates these requirements and makes NFPA 54 a mandatory reference. The CSB was also very pleased to learn that both the International Code Council and the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials made code changes to incorporate the purging requirements of the NFPA 54 TIA. 2 These actions demonstrate the potential of the NFPA and its committees to effect positive changes on a broad scale, and we thank you for your efforts to promote safe purging practices. 1 TIA number The ICC made permanent changes to the International Fuel Gas and Residential Codes (IFGC and IRC); the IAPMO adopted TIAs to the Uniform Plumbing and Mechanical Codes (UPC and UMC).

14 Just three days after the ConAgra recommendations were issued, on February 7, 2010, CSB investigators were deployed to investigate another natural gas explosion, this one at Kleen Energy, a combined-cycle natural gas fueled power plant under construction in Middletown, Connecticut. That explosion did not result from unsafe purging, but rather from the use of flammable natural gas to clean piping. Like the incident at ConAgra, however, this incident also involved the release of a large quantity of flammable natural gas in the vicinity of workers and ignition sources. At Kleen Energy, workers were conducting a flammable gas blow, a procedure that forced natural gas through new piping at a high volume and pressure to remove debris which may have accumulated during construction. The natural gas and debris were vented to the atmosphere in a congested area near the facility s power generation building. The gas accumulated, found an ignition source, and violently exploded, killing six contract workers and injuring approximately fifty others. The CSB concluded that the practice of using flammable gases to clean piping is inherently unsafe, and should be prohibited. On June 28, 2010, we issued urgent recommendations to NFPA, ASME (the American Society of Mechanical Engineers), and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to this effect. Ending this common and unsafe practice is common sense, and I d like take a few moments to summarize the compelling reasons for the CSB s recommendations. The first is that explosions resulting from flammable gas blows can and have resulted in loss of human life, serious injuries, and costly property damage. At the Kleen Energy site, most non-essential personnel were restricted from the area where the gas blow was being conducted, but more than 50 people remained at work in the adjacent building. The six individuals fatally injured were all within the building at the time of the explosion; five were involved with the natural gas blow activities and one was not. In addition to this tragic loss of life, many other individuals sustained injuries, and the Kleen Energy facility sustained millions of dollars in damage as well as several months delay in startup. It has been argued that the gas blow at Kleen Energy was not conducted properly to ensure the dispersion of the released natural gas and to prevent the gas from encountering ignition sources. This point overlooks the simple fact that cleaning piping with flammable gases presents an inherent explosion hazard. This brings me to my second point, which is that cleaning piping with flammable gases presents an explosion hazard that is extremely difficult to manage. We have heard it argued that gas blows can be done safely if the risks are managed, but with so many factors to consider, it simply doesn t make sense to take the risk in the first place. Where flammable gas is to be used to clean fuel gas piping, a highly complex technical evaluation is necessary to minimize the extent of the flammable atmosphere that will inevitably occur downstream of the venting outlet. The evaluation must consider the height, location and orientation of the vent pipe discharge, and the velocity and density of the gas being discharged. It must also evaluate factors impacting the dispersion of the gas, including atmospheric conditions and natural topography. The analysis and control of all of these factors can be difficult and full of uncertainty and potential mishaps.

15 And controlling the flammable atmosphere is only the beginning. Workers must also attempt to control potential ignition sources, a task which is, at best, fraught with uncertainty. The classical steps of eliminating ignition sources such as welding torches, heaters, and internal combustion engines of electric generators and compressors, and similar steps, are of an administrative nature and can and often fail. Indeed, attempts to control or manage the inherent risks of these natural gas blows using long lists of elaborate requirements that are often highly subject to failure are not a prudent approach to increased safety, and may well prove to be excessively costly because of their complexity. This brings me to the third and perhaps most important reason for prohibiting this unsafe practice: alternative, technically feasible and to our knowledge cost-effective cleaning methods are available and able to perform the same cleaning function as natural gas blows. Although natural gas blows remain a common practice, the CSB found in its investigation that safer pipe cleaning methods, such as pigging or blowing with air, are available and effective alternatives to cleaning with flammable gases. The CSB has also found no evidence that the alternative methods pose technological or financial obstacles. In fact, in the wake of the Kleen Energy incident, some of the major gas turbine manufacturers have taken action to strongly discourage their customers from using natural gas to clean piping and to provide guidance regarding nonflammable alternatives, such as air or nitrogen. The CSB was also very pleased to learn that the International Code Council may be considering action to modify its standards to address the dangers of using flammable gas to clean piping. With an estimated 125 gas-fueled power plants scheduled to go online in the next five years, the risk of future gas blow incidents is a very real possibility, and such actions are urgently needed. For all of these reasons, I was pleased to see that the current draft standard under consideration by your Committee will address pipe cleaning methodologies in a manner that would be consistent with our recommendation to move away completely from flammable gas blows. It is my understanding that together, Section which provides that Fuel gas shall not be used for internal cleaning of piping systems and Section 5.3.2, which specifies that Air, inert gas, steam, or water shall be acceptable cleaning media, would eliminate the practice of flammable gas blows and therefore be consistent with the intent of the CSB s recommendation. I want to thank you for considering this approach, which we see as having enormous potential to protecting workers engaged in pipe cleaning operations. I would also like to encourage the NFPA 56 Committee to clarify that the codes incorporated by reference in Chapter 2 should be considered part of the standard except in those instances where the requirements of the new standard are stricter. In those cases, the new NFPA 56 should supersede other standards that have not yet revised their requirements. In addition, we believe the new standard would benefit from incorporating the CSB s Urgent Recommendations documents into Annex B. The CSB may also provide other comments as the development process unfolds, and will share relevant information which may come to our attention. I should stress, however, that we will remain observers of, rather than participants in, the code development process. Having said that, I would like to close by thanking NFPA and the NFPA 56 Committee for your willingness to develop and promulgate this standard through an expedited process. Your prompt action to address gas process safety issues will be instrumental in preventing

16 loss of life and property. Moreover, the actions of NFPA and other voluntary standards organizations on these issues are likely to encourage and support the Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA), as the CSB recommended, to regulate in this area. We believe that your committee can play a leadership role in prevention by incorporating the main thrust of the CSB s recommendations and by strongly encouraging other standards bodies and OSHA to adopt a standard to prohibit unsafe working practices which result in the release of large quantities of flammable gas in the presence of workers and ignition sources. Thank you. I would be pleased to answer any questions or refer them to our technical and scientific staff.

17 Attachment C: Updated Draft NFPA 56(PS)

18 NFPA 56 (PS) Provisional Standard for the the Commissioning and Maintenance of Fuel Flammable Gas Piping Systems 2012 Edition NFPA and National Fire Protection Association are registered trademarks of the National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, Massachusetts Copyright 2012 National Fire Protection Association. All Rights Reserved. NFPA 56 (PS) Provisional Standard for the Commissioning and Maintenance of Fuel Flammable Gas Piping Systems IMPORTANT NOTE: This NFPA document is made available for use subject to important notices and legal disclaimers. These notices and disclaimers appear in all publications containing this document and may be found under the heading Important Notices and Disclaimers Concerning NFPA Documents. They can also be obtained on request from NFPA or viewed at NOTICE: An asterisk (*) following the number or letter designating a paragraph indicates that explanatory material on the paragraph can be found in Annex A. Changes other than editorial are indicated by a vertical rule beside the paragraph, table, or figure in which the change occurred. These rules are included as an aid to the user in identifying changes from the previous edition. Where one or more complete paragraphs have been deleted, the deletion is indicated by a bullet ( ) between the paragraphs that remain. A reference in brackets [ ] following a section or paragraph indicates material that has been extracted from another NFPA document. As an aid to the user, the complete title and edition of the source documents for extracts in mandatory sections of the document are given in Chapter 2 and those for extracts in informational sections are given in Annex B. Extracted text may be edited for consistency and style and may include the revision of internal paragraph references and other references as appropriate. Requests for interpretations or revisions of extracted text shall be sent to the technical committee responsible for the source document.

19 Information on referenced publications can be found in Chapter 2 and Annex B. Chapter 1 Administration 1.1 Scope Applicability. This standard applies to commissioning and maintenance procedures for flammable fuel gas piping found in power electric-generating plant, industrial and commercial applications * Coverage of piping systems shall extend from the point of delivery to the gas-consuming equipment shutoff isolation valve. (A) For other than undiluted liquefied petroleum gas (LP-Gas) systems, the point of delivery shall be considered to be the outlet of the customer meter or at the connection to a customer s piping, whichever is further downstream, or at the connection to customer piping if there is no meter. of the service meter regulator assembly or the outlet of the service regulator or service shutoff valve where no meter is provided. (B) For undiluted LP-Gas, the point of delivery shall be considered to be the outlet of the final pressure regulator, exclusive of line gas regulators, in the system. (C) For facilities that produce flammable gas for consumption on site, the point of delivery shall be considered to be the discharge isolation valve for the gas producing equipment * The minimum operating pressure shall be 2 psig (14 kpa) Nonapplication of Standard. This code shall not apply to the following items: (1) Fuel gas piping in systems where the normal operating pressure is less than 2 psig (14 kpa). (2) Natural gas processing plants, refineries, and petrochemical plants (1)* Piping systems covered by NFPA 54, National Fuel Gas Code (2)* Piping systems covered by NFPA 2, Hydrogen Technologies Code (3)* LP-Gas (including refrigerated storage) at utility gas plants (see NFPA 59, Utility LP-Gas Plant Code) (4)* LNG Facilities covered by NFPA 59A, Standard for the Production, Storage and Handling of Liquefied Natural Gas (5) LP-Gas used with oxygen for cutting, welding or other hot work (65)* Propane vvehicle fuel dispensers located at multiple-fuel refueling stations. (76) Gas piping, meters, gas pressure regulators, and other appurtenances used by the serving gas supplier in distribution or transmission of gas other than undiluted LP-Gas (87) Construction Commissioning and maintenance of appliances or equipment 1.2 Purpose. This standard provides minimum safety requirements for the commissioning and maintaining of fuel flammable gas piping systems, including cleaning new or repaired piping systems, placing piping systems into service, and removing piping systems from service For the purposes of this document, a piping system shall be understood to mean a complete piping system, including valves, regulators and other appurtenances, and any segment thereof that can be isolated from the system.

20 1.3 Retroactivity. The provisions of this standard reflect a consensus of what is necessary to provide an acceptable degree of protection from the hazards addressed in this standard at the time the standard was issued Unless otherwise specified, the provisions of this standard shall not apply to facilities, equipment, structures, or installations that existed or were approved for construction or installation prior to the effective date of the standard; where specified, the provisions of this standard shall be retroactive In those cases where the authority having jurisdiction determines that the existing situation presents an unacceptable degree of risk, the authority having jurisdiction shall be permitted to apply retroactively any portions of this standard deemed appropriate The retroactive requirements of this standard shall be permitted to be modified if their application clearly would be impractical in the judgment of the authority having jurisdiction and only where it is clearly evident that a reasonable degree of safety is provided. 1.4 Equivalency. The provisions of this code are not intended to prevent the use of systems, methods, or devices of equivalent or superior quality, strength, fire resistance, effectiveness, durability, and safety over those prescribed by this standard Technical documentation shall be submitted to the authority having jurisdiction to demonstrate equivalency The system, method, or device shall be approved for the intended purpose by the authority having jurisdiction. Chapter 2 Referenced Publications 2.1 General. The documents or portions thereof listed in this chapter are referenced within this standard and shall be considered part of the requirements of this document. 2.2 NFPA Publications. National Fire Protection Association, 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA NFPA 54, National Fuel Gas Code, 2009 edition. NFPA 58, Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code, 2008 edition. 2.3 Other Publications ASME Publications. American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Three Park Avenue, New York, NY ANSI/ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, ANSI/ASME B31.1, Power Piping, ANSI/ASME B31.3, Process Piping, Other Publications. Merriam-Webster s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th edition, Merriam-Webster, Inc., Springfield, MA,

21 References for Extracts in Mandatory Sections. NFPA 30, Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code, 2008 edition. NFPA 55, Compressed Gases and Cryogenic Fluids Code, 2010 edition. NFPA 85, Boiler and Combustion Systems Hazards Code, 2007 edition. Chapter 3 Definitions 3.1 General. The definitions contained in this chapter shall apply to the terms used in this standard. Where terms are not defined in this chapter or within another chapter, they shall be defined using their ordinarily accepted meanings within the context in which they are used. Merriam-Webster s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th edition, shall be the source for the ordinarily accepted meaning. 3.2 NFPA Official Definitions * Approved. Acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction * Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). An organization, office, or individual responsible for enforcing the requirements of a code or standard, or for approving equipment, materials, an installation, or a procedure Labeled. Equipment or materials to which has been attached a label, symbol, or other identifying mark of an organization that is acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction and concerned with product evaluation, that maintains periodic inspection of production of labeled equipment or materials, and by whose labeling the manufacturer indicates compliance with appropriate standards or performance in a specified manner * Listed. Equipment, materials, or services included in a list published by an organization that is acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction and concerned with evaluation of products or services, that maintains periodic inspection of production of listed equipment or materials or periodic evaluation of services, and whose listing states that either the equipment, material, or service meets appropriate designated standards or has been tested and found suitable for a specified purpose Shall. Indicates a mandatory requirement Should. Indicates a recommendation or that which is advised but not required. 3.3 General Definitions Bulk Gas System. A system in which compressed gas is delivered, stored, and discharged in the gaseous form to a piping system. The threshold quantity used to define a bulk gas system is determined based on material-specific requirements. The compressed gas system terminates at the point where compressed gas at service pressure first enters the distribution piping system. [NFPA 55, 2010] 3.3.2* Bulk Inert Gas System. An assembly of equipment that consists of, but is not limited to, storage containers, pressure regulators, pressure relief devices, vaporizers, manifolds, and piping, with a storage capacity of more than 20,000 ft 3 (scf) (566 m 3 ) of inert gas, including unconnected reserves on hand at the site, and that terminates at the source valve. [NFPA 55, 2010]

22 3.3.2* Competent Person. One who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them Engines. Prime movers such as internal combustion engines, external combustion engines, gas turbine engines, rotary engines, and free piston engines using either gaseous fuels or liquid fuels or combinations thereof. [NFPA 37, 2010] 3.3.4* Equipment Isolation Valve. A manual shutoff valve for shutoff of the flammable gas to each piece of equipment. The manually operated valve that isolates the balance of the gas train and the prime mover from the gas supply. [NFPA 37, 2010] Gas Generator System. An assembly of equipment that may consist of, but not be limited to, storage containers, pressure regulators, pressure relief devices, membranes, absorption material, and piping. The gas generating system terminates at the point where the gas supply, at service pressure, first enters the supply line. [NFPA 55, 2010] 3.3.5* Inert Gas. A nonreactive, nonflammable, noncorrosive gas such as argon, helium, krypton, neon, nitrogen, and xenon. [NFPA 55, 2010] 3.3.6* Line Gas Regulator. A pressure regulator placed in a gas line between the service regulator and the appliance regulator Pipeline Inspection Gauge (PIG). A scraping tool that is forced through a pipe or flow line to clean out accumulations of dirt, scale, and debris from the walls of the pipe Prime Mover. An initial source of motive power used to drive machinery Purge. To free a gas conduit of air or gas, or a mixture of gas and air. [54, 2012] Purge into Service. The act of replacing the air or inert gas in a closed system by a flammable gas Purge out of Service. The act of replacing the normal flammable content of a closed system by inert gas, air or water. Chapter 4 General Requirements 4.1 Piping System Construction. Fuel Flammable gas piping systems shall be constructed in accordance with ASME B31.1, Power Piping; ASME B31.3, Process Piping; or NFPA 54, National Fuel Gas Code, as applicable. 4.2 Notification of Hazards. Personnel in the affected area(s), as determined by the process hazard analysis, who are not directly involved with the commissioning or maintenance of fuel flammable gas piping systems shall be informed of the hazards associated with the activity prior to the initiation of any such activity. 4.3* Process Hazard Analysis. Commissioning and maintenance procedures shall include a process hazard analysis for each activity The process hazard analysis for each commissioning or maintenance activity shall address the following, as a minimum: (1) Release or disposal of fluids

23 (2) Ignition Sources static electricity and grounding (3) Personnel safety and training (4) Nonessential personnel evacuation (5) Warnings/Alarms (6) Emergency Response (7) Restricted access to affected area (8) Scope of work (9) Notification of AHJ (10) Well-defined responsibilities (11) Assignment of duties (12) Authority to shutdown (13) Safety officers (14) Review and compliance plans for other standards/regulations (15) Monitoring of affected area during discharge (16) Communication plans (17) Management of Change (18) Accurate Piping and Instrument Drawings (19) Hot Work Permits (20) Lockout/Tagout procedures (21) Operation procedures (22) Personal Protective Equipment (23) Control of point of discharge (24) Weather monitoring (25) Air traffic (26) Restoration of Service Chapter 5 Training Requirements 5.1 Persons whose duties fall within the scope of this standard code shall be provided with training

24 that is consistent with the scope of their job activities Such training shall include hazards of fuel flammable gas, hazards of any compressed gas used for cleaning or purging, safe handling practices of fuel flammable gas and compressed gas as applicable, emergency response procedures, and company policy Personnel training shall be supervised by a competent person and shall be documented Training records shall be maintained for a period not less than 5 years from the date of completion of the activity. 6.1 General. Chapter 6 5 Commissioning Commissioning of flammable gas piping shall include all pressure testing, cleaning, and fuel flammable gas charging by the owner/operator or designated contractor(s) Commissioning procedures shall be developed and implemented by a competent person Commissioning procedures shall be documented Commissioning shall occur when piping system construction is complete Piping system segments that can be isolated for cleaning prior to completion of the entire piping system shall be permitted to be cleaned, tested, and secured in a clean condition in accordance with Section Hangers, supports, or other means capable of restricting the movement of piping shall be installed prior to initiating commissioning activities in accordance with the process hazard analysis * Fluid media for testing or cleaning shall not introduce a flammable atmosphere into or create a fire hazard in the piping system being tested or cleaned Where utilities such as steam, water, or compressed air are used for commissioning activities in quantities or duration that can disrupt distribution or operations internal or external to the facility, commissioning activities shall be coordinated with the managing authority of the utility Personnel not involved in the commissioning shall be evacuated from the affected area(s) as determined by the process hazard analysis Access to all parts of the piping system during commissioning activities shall be restricted in accordance with the process hazard analysis. 6.2* Pressure Testing and Inspection. Prior to cleaning or being charged with fuel flammable gas, piping systems shall be inspected and pressure tested to determine that the materials, design, fabrication, and installation practices comply with the requirements of this standard and the intended application.

25 6.2.1 Pressure testing and inspection procedures shall be documented Where piping is designed and installed in accordance with NFPA 54, pressure testing and inspection shall be in accordance with NFPA 54 Chapter Where piping is designed and installed in accordance with ASME B31.1, pressure testing and inspection shall be in accordance with Chapter VI of ASME B * Where piping is designed and constructed in accordance with ASME B31.3, leak testing and inspection shall be in accordance with Chapter VI of ASME B * The test medium shall be water Where pneumatic testing is conducted in accordance with B31.1 or B31.3, the test medium shall be air, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or an inert gas. Oxygen shall never be used Where repairs or additions are made following the pressure test, the affected piping shall be tested in accordance with NFPA 54, ASME B31.1, or ASME B31.3, as applicable. Minor repairs and additions are not required to be pressure tested, provided that the work is inspected and connections are or tested with a noncorrosive leak-detecting fluid or other leak-detecting methods approved by the authority having jurisdiction. [54, ] Where new branches are installed, only the newly installed branch(es) shall be required to be pressure tested. Connections between the new piping and the existing piping shall be tested with a noncorrosive leak-detecting fluid or approved leak-detecting methods * A piping system shall be tested as a complete unit or in sections. Under no circumstances shall a valve in a line be used as a bulkhead between flammable gas in one section of the piping system and test medium in an adjacent section, unless a double-block-and-bleed valve system is utilized. two valves are installed in series with a valved telltale located between these valves. [54, ] 6.2.8* A valve, including the valve closing mechanism, or component shall not be subjected to the test pressure unless it can be determined that the valve or component, including the valve closing mechanism, is designed to safely withstand the pressure. [54, ] Regulator and valve assemblies fabricated independently of the piping system in which they are to be installed shall be permitted to be tested with inert gas or air at the time of fabrication. [54, ] Where pressure testing is completed before the piping system is cleaned of dirt and debris, one of the following methods shall be employed to discharge the pressure test media: (1) Releasing test media at a rate that prevents the ejection of debris or liquids at high velocity (2) Providing means to capture debris or liquids exiting the system (3) Locating the discharge point not less than 50 ft (16 m) from any person, vehicle, or structure. 6.3 Cleaning of Fuel Flammable Gas Piping.

26 6.3.1 General Fuel Flammable gas shall not be used for internal cleaning of piping systems except as permitted by An visual and/or audible alarm shall precede the start of a cleaning cycle in accordance with the process hazard analysis. by not less than 60 seconds and not more than 180 seconds * Acceptable Fluid Media. Air, inert gas, steam, or water shall be acceptable cleaning media except as permitted by Compressed Air Supply Where a compressor is used to deliver air for cleaning, it shall comply with ANSI B19.3, Safety Standards for Compressors for Process Industry A compressor shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer s or supplier s instructions, including clearance to combustibles, personnel, vehicles, and structures Where an internal combustion engine is used as the prime mover for an air compressor, it shall be in accordance with NFPA 37, Stationary Engines and Gas Turbines Where electric power is used as the prime mover for an air compressor, it shall be in accordance with NFPA 70, National Electric Code, and the manufacturer s instructions Connections between the compressor and prime mover shall be made in accordance with good engineering practice and the manufacturer s instructions Where a bulk gas system is used to supply air for cleaning, it shall comply with the NFPA 55, Compressed Gases and Cryogenic Fluids Code Inert Gas Supply Where a gas generator or air separator is used to supply inert gas for cleaning, it shall be acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction Where a bulk inert gas system is used to supply inert gas for cleaning, it shall comply with NFPA 55, Compressed Gases and Cryogenic Fluids Code Steam Supply Boilers for steam supply shall comply with the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code and ASME CSD-1, Controls and Safety Devices for Automatically Fired Boilers Where a boiler is mounted on a movable skid or trailer, fabrication of the skid or trailer shall comply with recognized structural standards and be acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction Placement of a movable boiler skid or trailer shall be in accordance with the manufacturer s or supplier s instructions relative to personnel, vehicles, and structures Fuel supply to the boiler shall be in accordance with NFPA 54, National Fuel Gas Code; NFPA 58, Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code; or NFPA 30, Flammable and Combustible Liquids

27 Code, as applicable Fuel supply piping shall include adequate flexibility, vibration isolation, or other means to prevent failure due to transmitted forces from the operating equipment Water Supply Where the municipal water supply is to be used, the authority having jurisdiction shall be notified no less than 5 business days before the cleaning process * Pumps used to supply water for cleaning shall be capable of withstanding the pressures and velocities anticipated Where an internal combustion engine is used as the prime mover for a pump, it shall be in accordance with NFPA 37, Stationary Engines and Gas Turbines Where electric power is used as the prime mover for a pump, it shall be in accordance with NFPA 70, National Electric Code, and the manufacturer s instructions Connections between the pump and prime mover shall be made in accordance with good engineering practice and the manufacturer s instructions Temporary Power/Fuel Supply Where electric power is used as the prime mover for the cleaning media supply system, it shall be connected in accordance with NFPA 70, National Electric Code Where fuel gas is used as the fuel for the cleaning media supply system, it shall be piped and connected in accordance with NFPA 54, National Fuel Gas Code or NFPA 58, Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code, as applicable Where fuel oil is used as the fuel for the cleaning media supply system, it shall be piped and connected in accordance with NFPA 31, Standard for the Installation of Oil-Burning Equipment Temporary Piping (Including Hose Assemblies). Temporary piping systems, including hose assemblies, used to connect cleaning media supply source to the piping system shall be in accordance with ASME B31.1 Paragraph through Temporary piping, hose and accessories shall be compatible with the cleaning media Temporary piping, hose and accessories shall be designed and constructed to withstand at least 1.25 times the expected pressure of the cleaning process Connections between the temporary piping system and the permanent piping system being cleaned shall be gas and dust tight * Securing Fuel Gas Piping During Cleaning Hangers, supports, or other means capable of restricting the movement of piping being cleaned shall be installed prior to initiating a cleaning process Personnel not involved in the cleaning process shall be evacuated to a point not less than 25 ft (7.7 m) from the point of discharge.

28 Access to all parts of the piping system being tested shall be restricted until the cleaning procedure is complete Pipeline Inspection Gauge Cleaning. A pipeline inspection gauge (PIG) shall be permitted to be used to clean piping systems that have not previously contained fuel gas The fluid used to propel the PIG through the piping system shall be permitted to be water, steam, air, inert gas, or flammable gas. comply with , , , or as applicable PIG Cleaning using flammable gas as the propellant shall be limited to piping between the point of delivery and the plant boundary Point of Discharge During Cleaning Process Target. Where a target is used to capture indicate debris during the cleaning process, it shall comply with and The target shall be designed and secured to withstand the velocity and pressure of the exiting media and debris without breaking or failing The target shall be located not less than 25 ft (7.7 m) from any person, vehicle or structure, or it shall be provided with means to ensure 100 percent capture of exiting debris Where a target is not used to capture debris during the cleaning process, the point of discharge shall be located not less than 50 ft (16 m) from any person, vehicle, or structure. The point of discharge location shall be determined based on the following criteria: (1) personnel (2) important buildings/building openings (3) vehicles/vehicular traffic (4) ignition sources (5) atmospheric conditions (6) design/location of target, if used (7) topography (8) discharge fluid characteristics (9) Noise transmission to neighbors (10) Management of Change (11) Breathing air displacement/asphyxiation or toxicity hazard (12) Location of Instrumentation and Controls 6.4 Isolation and Protection of Clean Piping Systems or Segments Where piping systems are cleaned in stages during fabrication or field assembly, the clean piping shall be permitted to be

29 isolated and protected against infiltration of dirt or debris One of the following means shall be employed to isolate the clean piping system and protect it against the introduction of dirt or debris: (1) Installation of metal blanks between piping segments (2) Insertion of mechanical line stoppers (3) Closing of gate valves Means of protecting a clean piping system shall be capable of withstanding the maximum pressure anticipated prior to removal for purging or charging with fuel gas. 6.5 Charging Piping System with Fuel Flammable Gas Where gas piping containing air is placed in operation, the air in the piping first shall be displaced with an inert gas, which shall then be displaced with fuel flammable gas in accordance with Section Inert gas displacement shall result in an oxygen concentration in the piping system of not more than 60 percent of the limiting oxidant concentration as determined in accordance with NFPA 69, Section Outdoor discharge of purged gases The open end of a piping system being pressure vented or purged shall discharge directly to an outdoor location Purging operations shall comply with the requirements in through The point of discharge shall be controlled with a shutoff valve The point of discharge shall be located at least 10 feet from sources of ignition, at least 10 feet from building openings and at least 25 feet from mechanical air intake openings During discharge, the open point of discharge shall be continuously attended and monitored with a combustible gas indicator that complies with Section Purging operations introducing fuel flammable gas shall be stopped when 90% fuel flammable gas by volume is detected within the pipe Persons not involved in the purging operations shall be evacuated from all areas within 10 ft (3.1 m) of the point of discharge Combustible Gas Indicators Combustible gas indicators shall be listed and calibrated in accordance with the manufacturer s instructions Combustible gas indicators shall numerically display a volume scale from 0 to 100 percent in 1 percent or smaller increments. Chapter 7 6 Maintenance 7.1 Process Hazard Analysis. Maintenance procedures shall include a process hazard analysis