Since the development of API Recommended Practice 752, Management of Hazards Associated with Location of Process Plant Buildings and the ASCE Committee on the “Design of Blast Resistant Buildings for the PetroChemical Industry” established guidelines in 1997, there have been many other factors that have influenced the blast resistant building industry.
The Transition
Following the event in Texas City in March of 2005, the Chemical Safety Board (CSB) issued urgent recommendations, API issued Recommended Practice 753, API is revising Recommended Practice 752, the BakerPanel report and Steelworkers report were issued, the ASCE Committee is revising the “Design of Blast Resistant Buildings for the PetroChemical Industry” guidelines, and OSHA has implemented a National Emphasis Program (NEP).
Reforming Blast Resistant Buildings into complete protective building systems
This is only a short list of regulatory actions that have impacted our industry. All of these actions have one thing in common, to increase worker safety within the refining and petrochemical industries. With this in mind, MBI has worked diligently to keep up with all guidelines and regulation changes taking effect to ensure its reputation for providing the safest blast resistant buildings on the market.
Many of the original regulations that were put into place were to prevent buildings from injuring people, not to have buildings protect people from injury. Even today many blast resistant building providers do not provide complete protection from an explosion; they simply provide protection from the blast overpressures. It is vital that our customers understand that blast engineering does not consider projectiles or flying debris, it only incorporates the effects of blast overpressures. With that said, we have engineered our buildings to provide protection from blast overpressures, projectiles, flying debris, toxic release, and fire. We believe that each and every one of these aspects is an obvious threat during a plant explosion and that our customers deserve to be completely protected while in our buildings.
In order to best service its customers, MBI has used its 10 years of experience in designing, engineering, manufacturing, and delivering blast resistant buildings to develop three categories of products:
Standard products
These products provide MBI customers the benefits of immediate availability. MBI currently has 7 standard models that are readily available and can be purchased, leased or leased to purchase. These standard products are currently the only products readily available with lease and lease to purchase options.
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Customizable products
These products provide MBI customers with the benefits of speed and flexibility. With these products, MBI has developed a library of custom components that streamline of the design, engineering and manufacturing processes.
With the assistance of an MBI professional, customers are able to use MBI’s proprietary design software to customize their building. Drawings and Engineering can be completed quickly, and the building manufactured and delivered in 10 weeks or less. These products also have extreme flexibility with the use of MBI’s patent pending mechanical connection system. This connection system allows customers quicker installation, and the ability to disconnect, relocate, and reconfigure to meet future demands.
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Specialty products
These provide MBI customers with the benefits of complete customization. Although many customers are able to take advantage of the benefits of MBI’s customizable products, MBI recognizes that there are times when customers have no alternative option and need to meet very stringent requirements. These products are typically rare, and take longer to produce and are more expensive, but MBI is capable of producing buildings that meet the most stringent of specifications.
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Class 1 Div 2 Electrical
