NFPA Consensus
Standards at Work
What is NFPA 59A and how does it apply
April 12, 2016
Guy R. Colonna, PE, Division Director, NFPA
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Agenda
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NFPA standards development process
Technical Committee on Liquefied Natural Gas
NFPA 59A overview
NFPA consensus standards adoption and enforcement
Questions
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Who is the NFPA?
• Organized in 1896
• Headquarters: Quincy, MA, USA
• Regional Offices throughout North America and
also representatives throughout the World
• NFPA Membership:
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Approximately 60,000 members
More than 80 trade and professional organizations
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Who is the NFPA?
• NFPA’s mission is to help save lives through information,
knowledge and passion
• NFPA staff and members are devoted to eliminating death,
injury, property, and economic loss due to fire, electrical and
related hazards
• Our information and knowledge comes in many forms: over
300 codes and standards, research and data analysis,
training and certification, public education, outreach and
advocacy
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NFPA Standards Making Process
• Voluntary consensus standards developing
organization (SDO)
– Adoption through state or local fire and building codes
– Incorporation by reference into federal regulations
• Developed by technical committees served by over
5000 volunteers
– Process is open – anyone can attend meetings and propose
changes
– Revised at least every 5 years
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Accessing NFPA Document Information
Pages
• Home page
– www.nfpa.org
– Codes and Standards tab
– List of documents
• From web browser
– www.nfpa.org/59A
• Next edition tab
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Resources to Help Support NFPA Documents
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Statistical data
Event analysis
Fire investigation
Fire Protection Research Foundation
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Clarifies need for research
Establishes funding sources
Facilitates research project
Disseminates results
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NFPA 59A – Background
AGA
begins
work on
LNG
1960
Committee on LNG
established to
develop standard with
scope broader than
utility gas plant
applications
1969
Standard prepared by
Sectional Committee
on Utility Gas
tentatively adopted
1966
1964
Draft
submitted
to NFPA as
basis for
new
standard
1966
Committee on Fuel
Gases formed;
Standard assigned
to subcommittee on
Utility Gas Plants
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1967
First
official
edition of
NFPA 59A
adopted
1971
First edition
of NFPA 59A
developed
under
broadened
scope
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
Scope and Application
Applies to:
Does not apply to:
(1) Facilities that liquefy natural gas
(1) Frozen ground containers
(2) Portable storage containers stored
or used in buildings
(2) Facilities that store, vaporize,
transfer, and handle LNG
(3) The training of all personnel
involved with LNG
(4) The design, location, construction,
maintenance, and operation of all LNG
facilities
(3) All LNG vehicular applications,
including fueling of LNG vehicles
(NFPA 52 and 30A)
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Retroactivity
• General statement in all NFPA documents
• Provisions of standard do not apply to facilities,
equipment, structures, or installations existing or
approved prior to effective date of standard, unless
otherwise specified
• AHJ may apply standard retroactively if existing situation
presents unacceptable degree of risk
• Retroactive requirements can be modified if their
application is impractical
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Equivalency
• The standard does not prevent the
use of systems, methods, or
devices of equivalent or superior
quality, strength, etc. over those
prescribed by the standard
• Technical documentation required
to demonstrate equivalency
• Must be approved by the AHJ
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Chapters in NFPA 59A
Chapter 1 – Administration
Chapter 2 – Referenced Publications
Chapter 3 – Definitions
Chapter 4 – General Requirements
Chapter 5 – Plant Siting and Layout
Chapter 6 – Process Equipment
Chapter 7 – Stationary LNG Storage
Chapter 8 – Vaporization Facilities
Chapter 9 – Piping Systems and
Components
Chapter 10 - Instrumentation and Electrical
Services
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Chapter 11 – Transfer Systems for LNG,
Refrigerants, and Other Flammable Fluids
Chapter 12 - Fire Protection, Safety, and
Security
Chapter 13 - Requirements for Stationary
Applications Using ASME Containers
Chapter 14 - Operating, Maintenance, and
Personnel Training
Chapter 15 – Performance (Risk Assessment)
Based LNG Plant Siting
Annex Material
Chapter 4 – General Requirements
• Applies to all facilities covered by 59A
• Includes basic requirements for:
– Corrosion Control
– Records
– Control Centers
– Noncombustible Materials
– Sources of Power
– Ignition Source Control
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Chapter 5 – Plant Siting and Layout
• Provides the criteria for plant and equipment siting
• Includes requirements for:
– Spacing for containers, vaporizers, process equipment, loading and unloading
facilities
– Design, capacity, and siting of secondary containment and impounding areas
– Environmental considerations (soil, ice, snow)
• Also includes provisions for:
– Building and structure design classifications
– Concrete design, materials, and reinforcement
– Portable LNG facilities
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Chapter 12 – Fire Protection, Safety, and Security
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Covers the equipment and procedures designed to minimize
consequences of releases
Also provides basic plant security provisions
Fire protection must be provided – extent determined by evaluation of
individual facilities
Emergency Shutdown (ESD) System required for each LNG Facility
Includes requirements for gas, fire, and leak detection, fire protection
water equipment, and fire extinguishing equipment IF the engineering
analysis determines these are necessary
Also includes requirements for personnel safety and security
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Chapter 14 – Operating, Maintenance, and Personnel
Training
• Provides the minimum requirements relating to safety during
operation and maintenance of LNG plants
• All facilities must have up-to-date operating procedures manual and a
maintenance manual
• Includes requirements for:
- Emergency procedures
- Monitoring operations
- Transfer of LNG/flammables
- Maintenance of components
- Personnel training
- Record keeping
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Chapter 15 – Performance (Risk Assessment) Based
LNG Plant Siting
• Includes the calculation of risks to persons outside the boundary of
the LNG plant from releases in the plant
• Alternative to siting requirements in Chapter 5
• Must be approved by AHJ
• 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, approved by AHJ
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Adoption and Enforcement
NFPA codes and standards are voluntary consensus
standards
• Adoption can be at federal level
– NFPA 59A incorporated by reference into US DOT/PHMSA
regulations at 49 CFR Parts 191 and 193
– NFPA 59A incorporated by reference into US Coast Guard (DHS)
regulations at 33 CFR Part 127
• Adoption can be at state level
– Massachusetts adopts NFPA 1, and NFPA 59A applies per 69.8
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Questions
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Thank You
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