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What Is Facility Siting?

Facility siting is a critical component of process safety management in chemical plants and other high-risk industrial operations. It involves evaluating the physical placement of buildings, equipment, and personnel within and around a facility to minimize risks from fires, explosions, toxic releases, and other hazardous events.

A Facility Siting Study (FSS) determines:

  • The safest location for new chemical facilities

  • The optimal placement of process units and occupied buildings (e.g., control rooms, offices)

  • Risks to on-site workers and nearby communities

  • Potential consequences of accidental releases and how to mitigate them

By addressing these concerns, facility siting helps prevent incidents, reduce risk exposure, and ensure compliance with OSHA and industry safety standards.

Facility Siting in Chemical Industry

Why Is Facility Siting Important?

In hazardous industries—such as chemical processing, oil and gas, and pharmaceuticals—the physical layout of a facility plays a vital role in protecting people, property, and the environment. Poor siting decisions can increase the severity of accidents, hinder emergency response, and even lead to regulatory fines or legal consequences.

A Facility Siting Assessment supports:

What Do Facility Siting Studies Include?

Under OSHA’s PSM Standard, facility siting must be evaluated as part of a Process Hazard Analysis (PHA). However, due to its complexity, most Facility Siting Studies are conducted separately by experts following Recognized and Generally Accepted Good Engineering Practices (RAGAGEP).

Key standards include:

  • API RP 752 – Permanent building siting

  • API RP 753 – Portable building siting

  • API RP 756 – Tent siting in process areas

A comprehensive Facility Siting Study may include:

  • Explosion overpressure modeling

  • Fire radiation heat mapping

  • Toxic gas dispersion modeling

  • Analysis of building vulnerability and occupancy

  • Evacuation vs. shelter-in-place risk assessments

  • Compliance checklists and spacing guidelines

  • Consideration of domino effects between process units

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Why Perform a Facility Siting Assessment?

A Facility Siting Review is essential for:

  • Preventing catastrophic events like fires, explosions, and toxic leaks

  • Protecting workers and nearby communities

  • Ensuring compliance with OSHA, EPA, and NFPA guidelines

  • Supporting risk-based decision-making

  • Planning for emergency response and evacuation

  • Enhancing insurance readiness and minimizing liability

  • Improving facility layout for future expansion

Why Choose Prime Process Safety Center

At Prime Process Safety Center, we offer expert Facility Siting and Risk Assessment services tailored to complex industrial operations.

Our key strengths include:

  • Specialized Expertise in fire, explosion, and toxic release modeling

  • Customized Assessments based on your facility’s unique needs

  • Regulatory Compliance with OSHA, NFPA, and API standards

  • Risk Mitigation strategies for occupied buildings and process units

  • Community & Environmental Considerations

  • Detailed Hazard Analysis to support decision-making

  • Support for Emergency Planning & Response

  • Future-Proofing through long-term site viability evaluations

  • Proven Track Record across oil & gas, chemical, and manufacturing industries

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FAQ

1. What is a Facility Siting Assessment?

It's a comprehensive evaluation process used to determine the most suitable location for an industrial facility, considering various safety, environmental, and operational factors.

2. Why is Facility Siting Assessment important in process safety?

It's crucial for ensuring that the facility is located in an area where risks of accidents, such as fires, explosions, or toxic releases, are minimized and that it complies with safety regulations and environmental standards.

3. What factors are considered in a Facility Siting Assessment?

Key factors include proximity to populated areas, environmental impact, accessibility for emergency services, potential exposure to natural disasters, and operational efficiency.

4. How does a Facility Siting Assessment contribute to process safety?

By carefully evaluating potential hazards and risks associated with the facility’s location, it helps prevent accidents, reduces the impact of any potential incidents, and ensures a safer working environment.

5. Is Facility Siting Assessment a regulatory requirement?

In many regions, yes. It's often a requirement under various safety and environmental regulations to ensure that facilities are safely located.

6. Who should conduct a Facility Siting Assessment?

It should be conducted by professionals with expertise in process safety, environmental science, and regulatory compliance.

7. How often should a Facility Siting Assessment be conducted?

It should be performed during the initial planning stages of a new facility and reassessed if significant operational or environmental changes occur.

8. What is the difference between Facility Siting and Plant Layout?

Facility Siting focuses on the location of the entire facility, while Plant Layout deals with the arrangement of equipment and processes within the facility.

9. Can a Facility Siting Assessment impact operational efficiency?

Yes, a well-conducted assessment can enhance operational efficiency by identifying a location that optimizes logistics, supply chain management, and operational processes.

10. What happens if a Facility Siting Assessment identifies high risk?

If high risks are identified, it may lead to reconsideration of the site, implementation of additional safety measures, or development of comprehensive emergency response plans.

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