National Fire Protection (NFPA)
59A Committee Perspective
May 18, 2016 | Presenter: Jay Jablonski, Chairman NFPA 59A
Agenda
Background of NFPA 59A
Overview of substantive changes since 2001 edition
PHMSA adoption of newer editions of NFPA 59A
Next Edition
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Background
Standard prepared Committee on LNG
by Sectional established to develop
Committee on standard with scope
AGA begins Utility Gas broader than utility gas
work on LNG tentatively adopted plant applications
1960 1966 1969
1964 1966 1967 1971
Draft Committee on Fuel First official First edition of NFPA
submitted to Gases formed; edition of 59A developed under
NFPA as Standard assigned NFPA 59A broadened scope
basis for new adopted
to subcommittee on
standard
Utility Gas Plants
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Purpose
To provide minimum fire
protection, safety, and related
requirements for the location,
design, construction, security,
operation, and maintenance of
LNG plants.
LNG Tanks at the port of Barcelona
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Scope and Applications
Applies to: Does not apply to:
1) Facilities that liquefy natural gas 1) Frozen ground containers
2) Facilities that store, vaporize, transfer, and 2) Portable storage containers stored or used
handle LNG in buildings
3) The training of all personnel involved with 3) All LNG vehicular applications, including
LNG fueling of LNG vehicles (NFPA 52 and 30A)
4) The design, location, construction,
maintenance, and operation of all LNG
facilities.
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Fundamentals of the NFPA Process - Balance
• Technical Committees:
– Carefully balanced by 9 interest categories
(1) Applied Research/Testing Laboratory; (2) Consumer;
(3) Enforcing Authority; (4) Installer/Maintainer; (5) Insurance;
(6) Labor; (7) Manufacturer; (8) Special Expert; (9) User
• 1/3 Balance Rule:
– A committee can never have more than 1/3 of its membership from any one interest
category
• Consensus Requirement:
– Minimum 2/3 on all changes
– Some situations require ¾ majority
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Technical Committee on LNG – Current Membership
• Enforcers – 5 (17%)
• Insurance – 3 (10%)
• Manufacturers – 5 (17%)
• Special Experts – 9 (30%)
• Users – 8 (27%)
• Total Principal Voting Members – 30
– Nominal maximum per committee – 30
• Alternates
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Overview of changes since 2001 edition
Significant Changes since 2001 Edition
• Reorganization of the Chapters
• Referenced Publications
• Concrete LNG tanks
• Membrane LNG tanks
• Pipe in pipe or vacuum jacketed pipe/underground pipe
• Reduction in spacing distance for thermal radiation allowed for water sprays
• ASME BPVC issue regarding hydrostatic pressure test and design factors
• Performance (Risk Assessment) Based LNG Plant Siting
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Chapters in NFPA 59A 2016
Chapter 1 – Administration Chapter 11 – Transfer Systems for LNG,
Chapter 2 – Referenced Publications Refrigerants, and Other Flammable Fluids
Chapter 3 – Definitions Chapter 12 - Fire Protection, Safety, and Security
Chapter 4 – General Requirements Chapter 13 - Requirements for Stationary
Chapter 5 – Plant Siting and Layout Applications Using ASME Containers
Chapter 6 – Process Equipment Chapter 14 - Operating, Maintenance, and
Personnel Training
Chapter 7 – Stationary LNG Storage
Chapter 15 – Performance (Risk Assessment)
Chapter 8 – Vaporization Facilities
Based LNG Plant Siting
Chapter 9 – Piping Systems and Components
Annex Material
Chapter 10 - Instrumentation and Electrical Services
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Referenced Publications – Chapter 2
• 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.
• This section is typically updated to include the current publication at the time of
the First or Second Draft meetings.
• As an example:
– The 2016 edition references the 2013 Boiler Pressure Vessel Code
– The 2001 edition references the 1992 Boiler Pressure Vessel Code
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Key Definitions and Concepts – Chapter 3
A part that functions as a unit in a LNG
facility, e.g. piping, containers, control
devices, impounding systems, etc.
A collection of components used to
produce, store, vaporize, transfer, or
handle LNG
An LNG Facility or collection of LNG
Facilities functioning as a unit
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Containers – Chapter 3
Suspended Deck
• Container Definitions Concrete or
(Insulated)
Metal Roof
– Prestressed Concrete Container
Outer
(Secondary)
– Tank System Container
– Single Containment Tank System Inner (Primary)
Container
– Double Containment Tank System
– Full Containment Tank System
Loose fill Base Insulation
Insulation
– Membrane Containment Tank System Full Containment Tank System
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Plant Siting and Layout – Chapter 5
Provides the criteria for plant and equipment siting including containers,
vaporizers, process equipment, loading and unloading facilities.
• Added the Model Evaluation Protocol for vapor dispersion software
• Allows reduced thermal spacing for active and passive systems
• Siting criteria (design spill) revised to address different types of containers
• Building and structure design classifications for seismic, wind, ice and
snow – A, B, C
• Additional requirements on Portable LNG facilities
• Concrete design referenced to ACI
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Stationary LNG Storage - Chapter 7
• Provides requirements for the design, marking, inspection, testing, and
operation of LNG storage tank systems
• Storage tank systems must comply with applicable standards and additional
provisions in Chapter 7 of 59A
Design Considerations
− Exposure of materials to LNG
− Wind, flood, & snow loads
− Container insulation
− Markings for containers
− Relief Devices
− Foundations
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Stationary LNG Storage Continued
• Metal and Concrete Tank Design, Inspection, and Testing
− Welding requirements for metal tanks, API 620
− Concrete design for concrete containers, ACI 376
− Revised seismic considerations, ASCE 7
− Inspection
− Hydrostatic and leak testing
− ASME Containers (>15 psi) (See also Chapter 13 for up to 100,000
gallon water capacity)
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Piping Systems and Components – Chapter 9
• Provides requirements for the design, construction, installation, examination,
and inspection for process piping systems and components
• Piping systems must comply with applicable reference standards and
additional provisions in 59A
• Includes requirements for:
- Seismic design - Inspection and Testing
- Materials of construction - Purging, Relief Valves, Corrosion Control
- Installation and marking - Cryogenic Pipe-in-Pipe Systems
- Pipe supports
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Performance (Risk Assessment) Based LNG Plant Siting – Chapter 15
• Alternative to siting requirements in Chapter 5
• Must be approved by AHJ
• Includes the calculation of risks to persons outside the boundary of the LNG
plant from releases in the plant
• Plants must be designed and located so that they do not pose intolerable risks
to surrounding populations and property
• Reassessment of risk required every 5 years or if significant modifications take
place
• Must use quantitative risk analysis (QRA) protocol found in one of the
specified publications and requires approved by AHJ
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PHMSA adoption of newer editions of NFPA 59A
• PHMSA plans to review the 2016 edition of NFPA 59A.
• Their evaluation of the 2016 edition is for incorporation by
reference (IBR) into CFR 49 Part 193.
• There are three possible paths for the 2016 edition:
(1) IBR the edition in total,
(2) IBR the edition except sections where PHMSA has concerns,
(3) Do not IBR the edition.
• The shared long term goal is a clean adoption of the 2019 edition.
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Possible Issues
There are a number of issues that exist between NFPA 59A and PHMSA
• Concerns with the Quantitative Risk Assessment. Failure rate database is
limiting and may make siting very difficult.
– The selection of failure rate data is very important in the risk assessment analysis.
• Lack of inclusion of certain hazards: toxic and toxic refrigerants, and
flammable refrigerants from explosion perspective.
– 59A typically focused on the fire and explosion hazards.
• Need to review how/if PHMSA’s LNG FAQs are now addressed in 2016.
– Ideally the FAQs would be covered by 59A
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Possible Issues Continued
• Natural hazard frequency in the 2013 edition is 100 years.
– Federal agencies must follow 1:500 year.
– For wind it must be 1:10,000 years.
• Changes in impoundment siting/types of models that can be used.
– There has been significant changes in dispersion and fire models.
• Shop Built Container Design
– Changes in design requirements
• Clarification of ASME B31.3 applicability to LNG plants
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Possible Issues Continued
• Impact of moving consideration of ‘other’ hazards from the body of the
standard, 2.1.1(d), to an Annex (now in A.5.2)
– Would sites not consider these other hazards if not in the body of the standard?
• There is a concern that ‘Small Scale’ siting is not adequately addressed in
59A, but needs risk based siting
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Next Edition of NFPA 59A
• NFPA 59A is in the Fall 2018 Revision Cycle
• Public Input Closes in January 2017
– Input accepted from the public or other committees
for consideration to develop the First Draft
– NFPA accepts Public Input on documents via their
online submission system.
– http://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/standards-
development-process/submitting-public-input-and-
comments
• Publish First Draft Sept. 2017
• Public Comment Closes Nov. 2017
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Thank you very much for your attention.
Jay Jablonski
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