CCPS guidelines for chemical process quantitative risk analysis

Abstract

This paper focuses on the new Guidelines for Chemical Process Quantitative Risk Analysis recently published by the AIChE Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS). CCPS was formed soon after the disasters in Mexico City and Bhopal. CCPS was established in 1985 by the AIChE to develop and disseminate technical information for use in the prevention of major chemical accidents. The center is supported by over 60 industrial sponsors in the chemical process industry (CPI), who provide the necessary funding and professional guidance to its technical committees. The major product of CCPS activities has been a series of guideline books. Table I presents a list of the currently available CCPS guidelines. The first book, Guidelines for Hazard Evaluation Procedures (HEP), presented various structured qualitative techniques (HAZOP, FMEA, etc.) that could be used to identify possible hazards in a chemical facility. The Technical Steering Committee of CCPS decided that a sequel to HEP should be developed which would present quantitative methods for acute process hazards. The Guidelines for Chemical Process Quantitative Risk Analysis (CPQRA) resulted from that decision.