HEALTH & SAFETY


costs on equipment and maintenance. It’s worth noting the enhanced compliance benefits, too: mapping studies backed by experienced engineers meet stringent safety standards with confidence.


Micropack’s proprietary solution is being used for many oil & gas applications


REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS Offshore platforms are a key area of application due to the fact that high congestion and harsh weather demand precise mapping. Engineers use HazMap3D to design systems that perform reliably under these challenging conditions. Refineries are another real-world


application for this technology: with sprawling layouts and diverse risks, refineries benefit from the combined power of HazMap3D’s modelling and engineers’ expertise to optimise detection coverage. A third example of how the


Fire and gas mapping requires more than advanced software; the expertise and real- world knowledge of engineers cannot be underestimated


The Target Gas Cloud (TGC)


methodology features a four- step process, with the first being understanding congestion and confinement. This involves calculating the blockage ratio of an area, which quantifies the level of congestion and confinement. This ratio determines the target size of gas clouds requiring detection, aligning with the explosion risks specific to the site. Defining the target gas cloud


is the second step. Based on the blockage ratio, a target gas cloud size is established – typically ranging from 4 to 10m. This step ensures the detection system focuses on accumulations that could lead to damaging overpressures if ignited. The next step is placing detectors.


Gas detectors are strategically positioned to optimise coverage of the target gas cloud. This includes using point and open-path detectors tailored to the layout, ensuring gaps are minimised while meeting the defined performance criteria. The final step is performance


verification, which involves validating


the detector layout through simulation and analysis, ensuring the design meets performance targets. Adjustments are made as needed to guarantee comprehensive coverage and system reliability.


THE VALUE OF EXPERTISE Although tools such as HazMap3D are essential for fire and gas mapping, it’s the expertise of engineers that brings these systems to life. Their understanding of site conditions, operational realities and regulatory frameworks ensures that designs are not only compliant but optimised for performance. Key benefits of expert-driven


mapping include comprehensive coverage: engineers interpret data to eliminate blind spots, ensuring no risk goes undetected. By applying their knowledge of environmental factors, engineers also reduce nuisance alarms while maintaining detection reliability. A further benefit is cost efficiency: engineers ensure systems are neither under- nor over-engineered, saving


technology can be applied in the oil & gas sector is for LNG terminals. Here, engineers tailor detection systems to manage cryogenic conditions and large storage volumes, ensuring safety in these high-risk environments. Micropack knows that effective


fire and gas mapping requires more than advanced software. HazMap3D provides the foundation, but it’s the company’s engineers who deliver actionable insights. Their ability to combine technical precision with real-world understanding ensures that every detection system the firm designs is ready to perform when it matters most. Fire and gas mapping is a blend


of technology and experience. HazMap3D provides the tools to model and simulate coverage with precision, while the engineers bring the insight needed to turn those models into effective safety systems. HazMap3D and Micropack’s expert


team deliver fire and gas mapping studies that protect people, assets and the environment. Because safety isn’t only about tools; it’s also about the people who use them.


Graham Duncan is MD of Micropack. www.micropacksafety.com


www.engineerlive.com 41


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56